Pope Francis has called for a 맥스카지노�negotiation맥스카지노� to end the war in Ukraine in a Christmas Day message where he appealed for weapons to be laid down in global conflicts and for the reconciliation between enemies. The 88-year-old pontiff맥스카지노�s remarks came hours after a 맥스카지노�massive맥스카지노� aerial attack by Russia and follow his consistent push for a negotiated peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine. Months of increased bombardment by Russia have left Ukraine in a precarious position as the war continues into a third winter.맥스카지노�May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine!맥스카지노� the pope said during his traditional 맥스카지노�Urbi et Orbi맥스카지노� (맥스카지노�To the city and to the world맥스카지노�) address and blessing. 맥스카지노�May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.맥스카지노�In the past, the pope has suggested Ukraine should have the 맥스카지노�courage of the white flag,맥스카지노� remarks that Kyiv criticized, although relations between the Vatican and Ukraine have improved. Ukraine맥스카지노�s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met the pope for a third time in October and thanked the Holy See earlier for its help in securing the release of Ukrainian prisoners.A peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war has become a more likely prospect following the reelection of President Donald Trump, who has pledged to end the conflict. Moreover, Zelenskyy has recently signaled a willingness to enter into negotiations to end the war. While Francis has not laid out a detailed position on what a peace deal would look like in Ukraine, the Holy See맥스카지노�s foreign minister has said they respect the 맥스카지노�territorial integrity of Ukraine.맥스카지노�Elsewhere in his Christmas message, the pope called for peace across the Middle East, saying the 맥스카지노�humanitarian situation is extremely grave맥스카지노� in Gaza.맥스카지노�I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly to the dear community in Gaza,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released, and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war.맥스카지노�Francis has been more vocal recently about the Israel-Hamas war and has described what has been happening in Gaza as 맥스카지노�cruelty맥스카지노� and 맥스카지노�not war.맥스카지노� He made these remarks in his annual Christmas address to cardinals who lead the church맥스카지노�s central administration in what appeared to be a reference to the Israeli airstrikes on Friday that killed 25 Palestinians in Gaza. And in excerpts from a book published last month, the pontiff called for an investigation into allegations of genocide.Israel맥스카지노�s assault has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and injured over 100,000 since the war started, according to Gaza맥스카지노�s health ministry. Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.The Pope also talked about 맥스카지노�closeness to the Christian community in Lebanon, especially in the south, and to that in Syria, at this most delicate time맥스카지노� and for 맥스카지노�the doors of dialogue and peace be flung open throughout the region, devastated by conflict.맥스카지노� He called attention to the 맥스카지노�children who are dying from an outbreak of measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo맥스카지노� and to those in the east of that country and of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Mozambique.맥스카지노�The humanitarian crisis that affects them is caused mainly by armed conflicts and the scourge of terrorism, aggravated by the devastating effects of climate change, resulting in the loss of life and the displacement of millions of people,맥스카지노� he said.On Christmas Eve, the pope inaugurated the Catholic Church맥스카지노�s jubilee year, an ancient tradition that began with the opening of St. Peter Basilica맥스카지노�s Holy Door, which is normally cemented shut. The jubilee year, which dates back to biblical times, centers on forgiveness and pilgrimage and has led to major upheaval in central Rome as the Eternal City scrambles to prepare to welcome 35 million visitors over the coming year. Those who pass through the Holy Door and carry out certain spiritual and charitable acts receive a plenary indulgence, a centuries-old Catholic tradition related to the forgiveness of sins and can help release a soul from purgatory.Francis said he hoped the jubilee would be a moment when the 맥스카지노�ideological walls that so often mark political life맥스카지노� are torn down, for the forgiveness of debts of poorer countries and for the Christmas message to inspire political authorities in the 맥스카지노�American continent맥스카지노� to promote 맥스카지노�social harmony.맥스카지노�In his Christmas Day address, Francis said the opening of the Holy Door shows that 맥스카지노�God맥스카지노�s mercy can do all things맥스카지노� and encourages everyone to be 맥스카지노�reconciled with ourselves and able to be reconciled with one another, even our enemies.맥스카지노�The pope was brought to the balcony overlooking St. Peter맥스카지노�s in a wheelchair and delivered his speech while sitting. The jubilee year is likely to test the stamina of the pontiff, who decided to lead last Sunday맥스카지노�s Angelus prayer from inside his residence in the Vatican due to cold symptoms. On Thursday, he is due to travel to Rome맥스카지노�s Rebibbia prison to open a holy door as part of the jubilee celebrations, the first time such a portal will be opened in a prison.