Pope Leo laments conditions for Palestinians in Gaza in first Christmas homily

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned the “rubble and open wounds” left behind by wars, singling out the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as he conducted his first Christmas homily.

“Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” the pope said at the mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

“How … can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold,” he said.

In Bethlehem, the Christian community celebrated its first festive Christmas in more than two years as the occupied West Bank city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza.

Heavy rains have battered Gaza in recent days — compounding the harsh conditions of the Palestinian territory’s residents, nearly all of whom were displaced during the war.

The U.N. has said an estimated 1.3 million people currently need shelter assistance in Gaza and has warned of the increasing risk of hypothermia as temperatures dip.

Leo met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican last month. According to a Vatican statement, both leaders agreed on “the urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza” and to “end the conflict by pursuing a two-state solution,” which would see an independent Palestinian state created alongside Israel.

In a Christmas blessing Thursday, Leo also urged Russia and Ukraine to find the “courage” for direct talks following weeks of intense international diplomacy to end their nearly four-year war.

“May the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue,” Leo said.

In recent weeks, Russian and Ukrainian officials have spoken separately to U.S. negotiators about proposals to end the conflict started by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.