Hawzah News Agency- The 88-year-old pontiff’s address on Wednesday comes amid Israel’s ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza, which has claimed at least 45,300 lives, including over 17,400 children, since October 2023.

Marking his 12th Christmas as pontiff, Pope Francis also held Christmas calls with Palestinian Christians in Gaza, underscoring their plight as they face the threat of extinction.

As the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Francis has intensified his criticism of the Israeli regime, calling for an immediate ceasefire and improved humanitarian access to Gaza.

He extended his Christmas appeal to other global crises, including the conflict in Sudan, where 20 months of civil war have left millions on the brink of famine.

In his Christmas address last week, the Pope condemned the killing of children in Gaza, describing it as “cruelty.”

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