Pope Francis presides over Christmas eve Mass, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on Sunday. Gregorio Borgia/AP hide caption toggle caption Gregorio Borgia/AP Middle East crisis — explained Pope Francis mourns the rejection of peace and 'futile logic of war' this Christmas December 24, 2023 • In his Christmas Mass address Sunday, he said the word of God is being drowned out by the violence in Gaza. Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire multiple times since the war started on Oct. 7.
