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. On a windy Christmas Day, Francis spoke from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as a throng estimated at 70,000 people listened below. The traditional address, known as “Urbi et Orbi,” Latin for “to the city and the world,” offered the pope an opportunity to give Christmas greetings to the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and draw attention to issues that concern him — in this case, the universal desire for peace.

 

“True peace is not a balance of opposing forces,” Francis said. “It is not a lovely façade which conceals conflicts and divisions. Peace calls for daily commitment.” [Link]