Pope Francis has condemned the human “hunger for wealth and power” at a Christmas Eve mass at the Vatican, apparently referring to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.
“How many wars have we seen!” He said, adding that the actual victims were “weak and weak”.
“I think more than children who suffer from war, poverty and injustice,” the Pope added.
He was addressing worshipers at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Francis, 86, entered the church in a wheelchair, and sat at the altar for most of Saturday evening’s mass.
“While animals feed in their stalls, men and women in our world, hungry for wealth and power, also eat their neighbors, their mothers and sisters,” he said.
He did not specifically mention the Russian-Ukrainian war during his service.
During the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion that began on February 24, the Argentine pope was widely criticized in Ukraine for what many Ukrainians saw as cautious comments without directly blaming Russia. But saw
In June, he suggested that the war “was somehow neither provoked nor prevented”.
But the Pope later condemned what he described as atrocities by Russian soldiers.
On Sunday, Francis is scheduled to deliver his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to the square below and to Catholics around the world.
In Britain, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is expected to say that despite war and conflict around the world, as well as the stay-at-home crisis, there is “invincible hope” for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Considering his recent visit to Ukraine, and his upcoming visit to South Sudan with the Pope and the moderator of the Church of Scotland, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion is also expected to visit South Sudan and both countries. will appeal to the leaders of Russia will end violence and “give hope to millions”.
