Pope Leo XIV Delivers Historic Christmas Message In Vatican

On December 25, 2025, history was made in the heart of Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, delivered his inaugural Christmas Day sermon and the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing. The event, which drew an estimated 26,000 faithful to St. Peter’s Square despite persistent rain and chilly winds, was not just a celebration of Christmas—it was a call to global conscience and compassion.

Inside the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, 6,000 people packed the pews for the Christmas Mass, while another 5,000 braved the weather outside, umbrellas in hand, eyes fixed on the giant screens broadcasting the service. The mood was one of anticipation and hope as Pope Leo, who was elected in May of this year, presided over his first Christmas as the leader of the Catholic Church. It was a moment that signaled both continuity and change—Leo, at 70, is the youngest pope since John Paul II, and he has already begun to put his own stamp on the papacy by restoring the tradition of a Christmas Day Mass, a practice not seen since 1994.

The pope’s Christmas message, delivered from the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s, was sweeping in its scope and deeply personal in its tone. According to the Associated Press, Leo began by urging the world to "enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed." He argued that if humanity could do this, "then the world would change." With these words, the American pontiff set the stage for a message that was as much about the world’s wounds as it was about the promise of Christmas.

Pope Leo’s address was a somber survey of global suffering. He lamented the plight of "those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza," referencing the more than 400,000 homes destroyed during Israel’s war with Hamas. In a poignant moment, he asked, "How, at Christmas, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?" The pope’s empathy extended to impoverished Yemenis, migrants crossing the Mediterranean and American continents, and young people forced to take up arms in conflicts around the world.

"Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds," Leo declared, as reported by CNN. He cited suffering in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, and called for "justice, peace and stability" in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Israel, and Syria. The tormented people of Ukraine, still resisting Russia’s invasion nearly four years on, were not forgotten. "May the clamor of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue," he urged.

The pope’s commitment to dialogue and reconciliation was a recurring theme. In his homily, delivered beneath the Basilica’s balustrade adorned with floral garlands and clusters of red poinsettias, Leo emphasized, "There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other." According to NPR, he underscored that peace can emerge only through humility and responsibility, and called on the faithful to "shed indifference in the face of those who have lost everything."

Leo’s message was not limited to the world’s war zones. He spoke movingly about the "many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent," underlining the Church’s concern for those seeking safety and a better life. He also remembered "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." Axios reported that Leo’s compassion extended to every corner of society, echoing his increasing outspokenness on the conditions of immigrants, youth, and families tormented by war.

The pope’s words were not just a litany of woes; they were also a call to action. He asked the international community to "forge together for justice, peace and stability," especially in regions like Lebanon and the Middle East. He revived the tradition of offering Christmas greetings in multiple languages—including English and Spanish, the latter a nod to his years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. This gesture was met with warm cheers from the crowd, as someone shouted, "Viva il papa!" before Leo waved and retreated into the basilica, glasses in hand.

Leo’s leadership style, marked by humility and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, has already begun to set him apart. In his first major interview in September, he voiced concern over "some things" happening in the United States, referencing a letter from his predecessor, Pope Francis, that rebuked U.S. deportation plans. His Christmas message continued this trend, blending spiritual reflection with pointed social commentary. He quoted the Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, hoping for peace to "blossom like wildflowers," and reminded listeners that "while humanity seeks to become ‘god’ in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?"

The Christmas celebrations themselves were rich with tradition and symbolism. The Midnight Mass began at 10 p.m. Rome time, a return to later services after years of earlier vigils prompted by pandemic curfews. St. Peter’s Square was adorned with a nativity scene from Campania, Italy, and a towering 25-meter Christmas tree from Bolzano. Inside, more than 100 Christmas crib scenes from around the world—including Chicago, Leo’s hometown, and Peru—were on display. Children from South Korea, India, Mozambique, Paraguay, Poland, and Ukraine carried flowers in the procession, highlighting the Church’s global reach.

This Christmas also marked the closing days of the Catholic Church’s jubilee year, a time of pilgrimage, spiritual renewal, and forgiveness that occurs every 25 years. Special "holy doors" in the four papal basilicas—walked through by countless pilgrims—will be closed and boarded up on January 6, 2026, the feast of the Epiphany. Leo will preside over the ceremony, bringing to a close a year dedicated to the theme of peace and reconciliation.

As the world faces a new year filled with uncertainty and challenge, Pope Leo XIV’s first Christmas message offered not just prayers, but a roadmap for empathy, dialogue, and hope. His words, echoing across the rain-soaked square and far beyond, called on all people to "do their part to reject hatred, violence and opposition, and to practice dialogue, peace and reconciliation." For many, it was a message as timely as it was timeless.