Pope Leo has condemned the difficult conditions for Palestinians in Gaza during his first Christmas Mass, making a direct and unusual appeal for this solemn day for Christians around the world. The pope, the first from the United States to lead the Vatican, said that the birth of Jesus in a stable shows that God has “pitched his fragile tent” among people.
“How can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?” he said. Pope Leo is celebrating his first Christmas since his election in May to succeed the late Pope Francis and is known for a calmer, more diplomatic style, usually avoiding political references.
In a later Christmas blessing, he also expressed concern for migrants and refugees “crossing the American continent,” making their protection a key theme of his early pontificate. Although he has previously criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policies, the pope did not mention him by name.
Pope Leo has repeatedly expressed concern about the situation in Gaza, and last month said the only solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians must include a Palestinian state. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October after two years of intense bombing and Israeli military operations, launched after Hamas' deadly attack in October 2023. Humanitarian agencies warn that aid reaching Gaza remains inadequate, while almost the entire population has been displaced.
During the service in St. Peter's Basilica, with thousands of faithful present, Pope Leo also condemned the suffering of the homeless around the world and the destruction caused by wars, speaking of the "ruins and open wounds" they leave behind.
