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Call for peace and compassion at Christmas mass

2025-12-25 14:10:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass as head of the Holy See at midnight, welcoming thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

During the mass, Leon said that Christmas is a celebration of "faith, charity and hope" and criticized the "distorted economy" that "leads us to treat people as simple commodities."

"There is no place for God on Earth if there is no place for man. Rejection of one rejects the other," the Pope said.

Before starting the mass, he thanked the approximately 5,000 people who gathered near the basilica building, despite the rainy weather.

The American pope has adopted a more modern approach compared to his charismatic predecessor, Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

The mass was attended by high-ranking church figures, diplomats, and thousands of other believers.

The ceremony celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, and this is among the most important days in the Catholic Church calendar.

This year's Christmas also marks the end of the Catholic Church's Holy Jubilee Year, which has resulted in the influx of millions of pilgrims to Rome.

In Kosovo, the main ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Saint Teresa in Pristina. The ceremony was led by the Bishop of Kosovo, Archbishop Dodë Gjergji.

Major state figures participated, including the country's president, Vjosa Osmani, and dozens of believers.

"Christmas is an inspiration that reminds us that even in the face of challenges, hope must triumph. This holiday invites us to mutual respect for the family that loves us unconditionally, for the friends who stand by us, and for our compatriots with whom we are connected by language, blood, and common hope," said President Osmani.

Earlier this month, the president personally met with Pope Leo XIV, to whom she requested recognition of Kosovo's statehood by the Vatican.

Despite the Vatican not recognizing Kosovo, the two countries maintain relations with each other. In January 2024, Kosovo opened a Special Mission to the Vatican. Meanwhile, in May of this year, relations deepened even further with the appointment of Luigi Bianco as apostolic nuncio to Slovenia and apostolic delegate for Kosovo.

According to official data, 1.7 percent of Kosovo's population belongs to the Catholic faith./ Rel