Pope Leo XIV, in his Christmas message, called for an end to global wars, highlighted humanitarian crises and pleaded for sympathy for immigrants worldwide.
Why it matters: The Christmas Day message was a call for peace and the first for the U.S.-born Pope, who was elected in May.
- He cited suffering in Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, Africa, Haiti, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and more.
The big picture: Leo has often clashed with the Trump administration with his messages on embracing immigrants seeking a new life from countries all over the world.
A key passage from Pope Leo's remarks:
- "Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty."
- "Like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent."
- "With those who have lost their jobs and those who are looking for work, like so many young people who struggle to find employment; with those who are exploited, like many underpaid workers; with those in prison, who often live in inhumane conditions."
