Pope calls for 24-hour truce in Ukraine for Christmas, no date specified
Pope Leo. Photo: Daniel Ibanez
On December 23, 2025, Pope Leo in a conversation with journalists called for a 24-hour truce in Ukraine at Christmas.
"Truly, among the things that cause me great sadness in these days is the fact that Russia has apparently refused the request for a Christmas truce,Э said the pontiff. Continuing his thought, Pope Leo stated: "Perhaps they will listen to us, and there will be 24 hours – one full day of peace throughout the world."
At the same time, he did not specify which date he had in mind, as the Russian Federation and most of Ukraine's population celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, on January 7. The Pope also did not mention whether he had approached Moscow with a proposal for a truce.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Zelensky supported Merz's proposal for a Christmas truce.
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