Pope Leo is living up to his reputation as a unity pope and wants to bring people together, said Weisner on Deutschlandfunk. His predecessor Francis opened the doors and it is now Leo’s job to continue on this path. Weisner added that the Pope is also dealing with cases of sexual violence in the Catholic Church and has met, for example, with representatives of victims’ associations. He called on the bishops in Germany to support the course of Pope Leo XIV.
Even before his Christmas mass, at which foreign policy messages are expected, Leo commented on the Ukraine war in the evening and asked for a ceasefire at Christmas. Speaking to journalists at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, he said it saddened him that Russia had apparently rejected a Christmas ceasefire. He reiterated his request to all people of good will to respect a 24-hour ceasefire at least on the feast of the birth of Jesus – in Ukraine and around the world.
Tomorrow the Pope will announce the Christmas message and give the traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” – to the city and the world.
Further information
Christmas Eve in Rome – For the first time with Pope Leo XIV (Audio)
This message was sent on December 24th, 2025 on the Deutschlandfunk program.
The Archynetys World Desk covers international affairs, geopolitics, diplomacy, conflict, and major developments from around the globe. Coverage prioritizes clear sourcing, strong context, and the broader significance of global events for an international readership.
