In his Urbi et Orbi Christmas message, Pope Leo said the birth of Jesus brings true peace to the world and calls everyone to take responsibility for building it through love, forgiveness and solidarity. He reflected on Christ being born in poverty and rejection, saying this shows God’s closeness to the poor, the excluded and those who suffer. The Pope urged people to stop blaming others, admit their own faults and stand with the weak, as this is the sure path to peace. He prayed for an end to wars and violence, naming conflicts and hardships in places including the Middle East, Ukraine, Africa, Haiti, Asia and Latin America, and asked leaders to choose dialogue over division. The Pope also remembered refugees, prisoners, the unemployed and victims of injustice, warning against indifference. He concluded by wishing everyone a peaceful and holy Christmas, emphasising the birth of Christ is the birth of peace for all.
