Vladimir Putin says Russia is ready to negotiate over Ukraine

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In his traditional Christmas message, which is broadcast around the world, the head of the Catholic Church addresses thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, some of them carrying Ukrainian flags, before delivering the blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the city and the world”).

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 86-year-old spoke of “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are living this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes.”

“May the Lord inspire us to make tangible signs of solidarity to help all who are suffering, and to enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of arms and bring an immediate end to this senseless war,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we prefer to heed other advice dictated by mundane ways of thinking,” he added, noting “with sadness” that “the icy winds of war continue to ravage humanity.”

“We are witnessing a serious famine of peace in other regions and other theaters of this Third World War,” he said.

The pope has called for peace in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February, condemning the war but seeking to maintain a delicate dialogue with Moscow.

He has been criticized in some quarters for not being more forthright in blaming Putin and Russia.

But in a magazine interview published last month, the Argentine pontiff decried the harshness of Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting an official protest from Moscow.

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