VATICAN — Pope Leo XIV condemned the “senselessness” of war and the “open wounds” it leaves behind in his first Christmas message on Thursday. The pontiff spoke after a year marked by conflict, while expressing hope for peace in Gaza and Ukraine. In Bethlehem, the Christian community celebrated its first festive Christmas in more than two years as the occupied West Bank city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza. Pope Leo, who was elected in May after the death of his predecessor Pope Francis, spoke of Gaza during a mass in St Peter’s basilica, saying: “How… can […]... Keep on reading: Pope Leo decries war’s ‘open wounds’ in first Christmas homily