DLNews Christmas 2022:

The powerful should end the Ukraine war immediately.

Pope Francis (86) administered the traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing in the heart of Rome (Italy) on Christmas Day. Thousands of believers gathered in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to listen to the Pope's sermon. Francis forgave Christians around the world the punishments for their sins - and also spoke about the Ukraine war.

The Swiss Guard, the Pope's bodyguard, marches to the Christmas blessing on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

"May our eyes embrace the faces of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark, in the cold, or far from their homes - due to the destruction caused by ten months of the war," Francis said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.

The head of the Catholic Church asked to "enlighten" the minds of those "who have the power to silence the guns and put an immediate end to this senseless war." The Ukraine war has worsened world hunger, particularly in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa countries. All wars "weaponize food," Francis said.

Russia destroyed a grain warehouse in Zaporizhia.

A clear allusion to Russia's dictator Vladimir Putin (70): The Kremlin tyrant blocked ports in Ukraine for months and had grain silos shot at, even though the country is one of the largest wheat exporters in the world. It was only in August that Putin agreed to lift the blockade.

Russia has also stolen grain worth around a billion US dollars from Ukrainian fields, satellite images from the American space agency Nasa show.

Francis also spoke of "other scenes of this third world war." "Think of Syria, still tormented by a conflict that has receded somewhat but is not over; and let's think of the Holy Land, where violence and clashes have increased in recent months, with deaths and injuries." The Pope asked for support from Lebanon, the Sahel, Yemen, Myanmar, and Iran.

Thousands of faithful listened to the Pope's sermon in the heart of Rome.

At Christmas, however, Christians should also think of their neighbors: “As we enjoy the joy of being gathered with our loved ones, let us think of the families who have been most hurt by life and those who have lost in this time of economic crisis are struggling with unemployment and lack the necessities of life.”

As a rule, the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing is given at Easter and Christmas - and when a new pope has been elected.