{"id":2524898,"date":"2025-12-25T10:57:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T15:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xivs-first-christmas-eve-mass-highlights-peace\/"},"modified":"2025-12-25T11:00:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T16:00:37","slug":"pope-leo-xivs-first-christmas-eve-mass-highlights-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xivs-first-christmas-eve-mass-highlights-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV&#8217;s first Christmas Eve Mass highlights peace"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-leo-xivs-first-christmas-eve-mass-highlights-peace%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2524898&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica, where thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-man-shot-in-the-head-while-preaching-at-street-corner-in-arizona\/\" title=\"Chri...ian Man Shot In The Head While Preaching At ...reet Corner In Arizona\">worshippers gathered<\/a> despite rain. In his homily he condemned the &#8220;senselessness&#8221; of war and repeatedly called for compassion toward civilians in Gaza, refugees worldwide, and the homeless. Framing Christmas as a moment to recognize human fragility, he described peace as something already present when suffering is acknowledged and met wiht tenderness.He cited the image of the Word of God arriving in silence and vulnerability, urged listening to the pain of others, and criticized the &#8220;falsehoods&#8221; used to justify conflict and the burden placed on young people forced to fight. He closed by urging dialogue,humility,and a Church engaged with people&#8217;s real struggles,signaling that humanitarian concerns will remain central to his papacy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Pope Leo delivers first Christmas Eve Mass, calls for compassion toward Palestinians and refugees<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2454091\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-leo-xiv\/\">Pope Leo XIV<\/a> celebrated his first <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/christmas\/\">Christmas<\/a> Eve Mass at St. Peter&rsquo;s Basilica on Tuesday night, delivering a homily that condemned the &ldquo;senselessness&rdquo; of war and urged compassion for people in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\">Gaza<\/a>, refugees around the world, and the homeless, as thousands of worshippers gathered despite rainy conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Worshippers filled St. Peter&rsquo;s Square and the basilica as light rain fell through much of the evening, marking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-dropping-most-jan-6-obstruction-charges-in-pending-cases-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"DOJ dropping mo... Jan. 6 ob...ruction charges in pending cases ... Washington Examiner\">pope&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s first Christmas celebration since becoming pontiff.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4361559\/new-south-wales-tighter-gun-restrictions-bondi-beach-attack\/\">Australian state passes tighter gun restrictions after Bondi Beach attack<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4361557\/european-leaders-erupt-us-travel-ban-officials-digital-services-act\/\">European leaders erupt over US travel ban of officials involved in Digital Services Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4361475\/volodymyr-zelensky-offers-demilitarized-zone-donetsk\/\">Zelensky offers demilitarized zone in Donetsk as US pushes Ukraine and Russia to compromise<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In his homily, Leo framed Christmas as a call to recognize human fragility and respond with care rather than indifference, repeatedly returning to the theme of peace as something already present but easily ignored.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Peace is real, and it is already among us,&rdquo; he said, describing peace not as a political abstraction but as something born when suffering is acknowledged and met with tenderness.<\/p>\n<p>Referencing the Christmas story, the pope reflected on the image of &ldquo;the Word of God&rdquo; arriving in silence and vulnerability, saying that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >human suffering today mirrors<\/a> that same fragile condition. He pointed specifically to civilians caught in war, displaced families, and people living without shelter.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind, and cold; and of those of so many other <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/asylum-and-refugees\/\">refugees<\/a> and displaced persons on every continent; or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities?&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The pope also spoke about young people forced into combat, describing the mental and moral toll of war on those sent to fight.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Fragile are the minds and lives of young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them,&rdquo; he said, criticizing what he called the &ldquo;falsehoods&rdquo; used to justify war by those far removed from its consequences.<\/p>\n<p>The pope has often commented on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia-ukraine-war\/\">Russia-Ukraine War<\/a>, highlighting the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3757684\/pope-leo-urges-peace-deal-ukraine-war\/\">humanitarian toll being suffered <\/a>without a peace deal.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the homily, Pope Leo emphasized listening to suffering as a prerequisite for peace, arguing that peace begins when the pain of others &ldquo;penetrates our hearts&rdquo; and disrupts complacency.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The Mass closed with a familiar message from Leo, who has repeatedly urged dialogue over force and humility over dominance in the early months of his papacy. He cautioned against inward-looking faith and called on the Catholic Church to stay connected to the struggles of people beyond its walls.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4361812\/trump-sends-special-merry-christmas-message-radical-left-scum\/\">TRUMP SENDS SPECIAL &lsquo;MERRY CHRISTMAS&rsquo; MESSAGE TO &lsquo;RADICAL LEFT SCUM&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican is among the most closely watched religious events in the world, and Leo&rsquo;s remarks underscored that humanitarian concerns, particularly the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/body-of-firefighters-7-year-old-daughter-found-in-condo-rubble\/\" title=\"Body Of Firefighter\u2019s 7...Year...Old Daughter Found In Condo Rubble\">human toll<\/a> of war and displacement, are likely to remain a central focus of his papacy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pope Leo urges compassion for Palestinians, refugees<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2524899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25358813190216.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[69447,69448,69449,54854,9367],"class_list":["post-2524898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-christmas-eve-mass","tag-first-papal-mass","tag-message-of-peace","tag-pope-leo-xiv","tag-vatican"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25358813190216.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2524898"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2524902,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2524898\/revisions\/2524902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2524899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2524898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2524898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2524898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}