Pope Francis used the first Christmas address of his papacy on Wednesday to make a broad call for global peace and an end to violence in Syria and parts of Africa, urging atheists and followers of other religions to join together in this common cause.
Pope Francis waved from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican after his Christmas blessing.
“True peace is not a balance of opposing forces,” Francis said. “It is not a lovely facade which conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment.”
Francis has generated global excitement among Catholics, and others, with his humble
demeanor and his shift in tone from the more strident papacy of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, as well as his focus on the plight of the world’s poor.
demeanor and his shift in tone from the more strident papacy of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, as well as his focus on the plight of the world’s poor.
However, he has also surprised many Catholics with his nonjudgmental tone on issues like homosexuality and divorce.
He proved unpredictable again on Wednesday, when he went off script to include atheists in his call for peace, rare for a Catholic leader.
“I invite even nonbelievers to desire peace,” he said. “Let us all unite, either with prayer or with desire, but everyone, for peace.”
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