Christmas in the shadow of war...Vatican in the 'Jewelry'

Pope Peter opens the gates of St. Peter's...Thousands of pilgrims and tourists flock to the opening ceremony of the "2025 Jubilee"
Pope "Let us inspire hope to escape the trials of war"

[Anchor]
With Christmas mass and worship held around the world, the pope delivered a message of hope to those suffering from the war on the occasion of the Catholic holy year of Jubilee.

However, in Gaza, where the war is underway, a devastated Christmas has come again this year.

I'm connecting with the reporter.

Reporter Park Young-jin, please tell us.

[Reporter]
Yes, at the Vatican on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the gates of St. Peter's Basilica and declared the opening of the Catholic Jubilee in 2025.The 88-year-old pope in a wheelchair crossed the gate threshold into the Great Hall to hold the Mass on Christmas Eve.

Jubilee is a "holy year" in which the Catholic Church gives special spiritual grace to believers, a special period of forgiveness and grace to believers passing through this gate, which is open until January 6, 2026.

Thousands of people flocked to St. Peter's Square despite the chilly weather to see the opening ceremony of the gate, which marks the beginning of the jubilee.

Pope Francis, whose motto for the jubilee year 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope," said he wanted to inspire hope to escape the trials of poverty and war.

[Pope Francis] Don't delay, don't slow down, you have to be driven by good news. It is our mission to inspire hope in various situations in our lives.]

[Anchor]
In Bethlehem, where festivals used to be in full swing, the war caused a gloomy Christmas without trees this year.

[Reporter]
In the Middle East, where the war has been going on for two years, Christmas was celebrated in a gloomy atmosphere.

Bethlehem, where baby Jesus was born, would have been a festive atmosphere with pilgrims and tourists in previous years, but the war stopped everything.

Following last year, authorities have decided not to hold Christmas trees or celebrations this year.

Cardinal Pizzabala, who visited Gaza and came to Bethlehem to hold a special Mass, said, "Everything was destroyed and starvation and disaster came, but I also said I could see 'life' and I should never give up."

He also prayed for an end to the war and emphasized, "This year should be the last time such a sad Christmas."

Meanwhile, the Christmas Mass was held again at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for the first time in more than five years, attracting many believers.

Notre Dame Cathedral reopened on the 7th after five years and eight months of restoration work after a fire destroyed its spire and roof in 2019.

I'm Park Youngjin of YTN in the international department.