Pope Leo Decries Gaza Conditions in First Christmas Sermon, Cites "Fragile Tents"

• Pope Leo used his first Christmas sermon to directly decry the dire conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza, a departure from his usual diplomatic style.
• He drew a parallel between Jesus' birth in a stable and the "fragile tents" of Gaza, exposed to rain, wind, and cold.
• The first US Pope, elected in May, has previously stated that a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict must include a Palestinian state.
• Despite an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian agencies report insufficient aid reaching Gaza, leaving nearly the entire population homeless.
• Leo also lamented the plight of the homeless globally and the destruction caused by wars, criticizing those who send young people to fight with "falsehoods."

Why It Matters: Pope Leo used his Christmas sermon to make a powerful, direct appeal for Gaza, linking it to global suffering.