Pope Leo (left) addresses the faithfull from the main balcony of St Peter's basilica in the Vatican on December 25th. “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?” he asked. In a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday, the pope said refusing to help the poor and strangers was tantamount to rejecting God himself. The faithfull look at Pope Leo speaking from the main balcony of St Peter's basilica on Christmas day. In ‍Thursday’s service with thousands in St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo also lamented conditions for the homeless across the globe and the destruction caused by war more generally.

Source: The Irish Times December 25, 2025 14:32 UTC