Pope Francis used his Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica to remind followers about the importance of peace with the war on Gaza still raging.<\/p>\n
The head of the approximately 1.3 billion Catholics reminded the faithful of the Christmas message “peace on Earth” during a service in the Vatican on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
In relation to the war in the Middle East, Francis said: “Our hearts are in Bethlehem tonight, where the prince of peace is still rejected by the doomed logic of war, by the clamour of weapons.”<\/p>\n
This year’s Christmas holiday is overshadowed for many by the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.<\/p>\n
According to the Vatican, around 7,000 people took part in the service in St Peter’s Basilica.<\/p>\n
Thousands also followed the events on St Peter’s Square in front of the church on large screens.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Pope Francis will give his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.<\/p>\n
Christmas is being celebrated very quietly in the Holy Land this year due to the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n
In Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank – the birthplace of Jesus Christ, according to the Bible – there are hardly any pilgrims or tourists, and no Christmas trees or other major decorations.<\/p>\n
Access to the city is heavily restricted by Israeli military roadblocks.<\/p>\n