Vatican, Sketsa.id – In his first Christmas homily as the global leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV delivered a poignant message linking the birth of Jesus in a simple stable to the current plight of displaced Palestinians in Gaza, enduring winter in emergency tents.
Celebrating Christmas Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 25, 2025, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that Christ’s nativity illustrates God choosing to “pitch his fragile tent” among the most vulnerable. “How can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind, and cold?” the Pontiff asked in his homily, as reported by Vatican News and Reuters.
Elected in May 2025 following the passing of Pope Francis, Pope Leo is recognized for his quieter diplomatic style. However, he did not hesitate to voice profound humanitarian concerns for Gaza, where the population continues to face severe hardship even after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire last October. Humanitarian agencies report that most Gazans remain displaced, with limited aid access and rising risks of hypothermia due to harsh winter conditions.
In his traditional Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and the World”) blessing from the basilica balcony, Pope Leo also prayed for “justice, peace, and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria.” He affirmed that in taking on human fragility, Jesus identifies with “those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza.”
The Pope, who has previously advocated for a two-state solution as the “only viable path,” used this inaugural Christmas message to underscore that celebrating the Savior’s birth must compel action and compassion for all suffering from conflict and displacement. Amid global Christmas celebrations, his words called the world’s attention to the “open wounds” of war, framing peace as a shared responsibility rooted in dialogue and empathy for the weakest.
This historic homily by the first American-born Pope solidifies his early papacy’s focus on direct, compassionate engagement with contemporary crises, urging the faithful to see the holy within the heart of human suffering. (*)
