Pope Francis urges ‘dialogue’ as a solution to heal a divided world in his Christmas day Speech

In his Christmas message, Pope Francis expressed concern about increasing polarization in the family and international relationships, saying that only dialogue can resolve conflicts, ranging from family disputes to threats of war.

In his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message delivered on Saturday, Christmas Day, he urged individuals and world leaders to communicate together rather than digging in their heels. “Our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried; there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and do things together,” Francis said from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in a wet and windy afternoon in Rome.

“On the international level too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking shortcuts rather than setting out on the longer paths of dialogue. Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all.” Pope Francis, who turned 85 last week, mentioned conflicts, tensions, or crises in Syria, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, and elsewhere.

“We continue to witness a great number of conflicts, crises and disagreements,” he said, speaking from the same balcony where he first appeared to the world as pope after his election in March 2013. “These never seem to end, by now we hardly even notice them.

We have become so used to them that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters,” he said, speaking to an unusually small crowd, which was reduced by COVID-19 restrictions and cold weather.

The Pope said “dialogue” 11 times in a speech of less than two pages as he addressed people huddled under rain parkas and umbrellas. He urged people not to ignore the plight of refugees, migrants, the homeless, political prisoners, and female victims of violence and urged leaders to protect the environment for future generations.

According to Pope Francis, people who are indifferent to the poor offend God, and he encouraged everyone to remember the needy “beyond all the decorations and lights”. In addition to praying in particular for those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis also prayed for women and children who have suffered increased abuse during lockdowns.

He prayed for “consolation and warmth” for older adults who are alone, as well as for health care workers who “generously devote themselves” to caring for the sick. “Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of goodwill to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects,” the Pope said. With 50,599 new cases on Friday, Italy set a daily pandemic record for the second day in a row. A further 141 people lost their lives, bringing Italy’s official death toll from the Coronavirus to 136,386. Worldwide, since COVID-19 first emerged in late 2019, more than five million people have died.