Pope Francis has called for an immediate end to the "senseless war" in Ukraine in his annual Christmas Day message from the Vatican. He lamented that on Christmas, the "path of peace" is blocked by social forces such as attachment to power and money, pride, hypocrisy, and falsehood. He urged people to look beyond the “shallow holiday glitter” and help those suffering in conflicts around the world.

The Pope mentioned conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Myanmar, Haiti, and the Sahel region of Africa, as well as a famine of peace threatening other corners of the world. He also called for a resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land, condemned the use of food as a weapon of war, and prayed that Christmas would inspire political authorities to attempt to calm political and social tensions in Latin America.

His message was followed by the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, recited in Latin and traditionally in many other languages as well.