POPE CAUTIONS AGAINST FRESH OUTBREAKS IN UKRAINE CONFLICT

Sat 25 December 2021:

As tensions between Russia and the West over the ex-Soviet republic increase, Pope Francis warned against new violence in the long-running conflict in Ukraine.

“On the international level too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue…Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all,” he said during his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing and message to the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square.

“In Ukraine, prevent fresh outbreaks of a long-festering conflict,” the pope said in his Christmas Day message to the faithful gathered at St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis also said that “immense tragedies” in conflict-torn Syria, Yemen, and Iraq were “being passed over in silence.”

The Pope will celebrate Christmas Mass at 7:30 p.m. local time, the same time as last year when a 10 p.m. curfew was in effect. The Vatican will check temperatures of worshipers as they enter St. Peter’s Basilica and require everyone to wear a mask and observe social distancing.

Pope Francis on December 24 called for more solidarity with those living in poverty as he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in front of a masked congregation of around 2,000 people.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

_____________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent