杏MAP导航

By Edoardo Giribaldi

鈥淎s people of faith and conscience, believing in the sanctity of all life on this planet, we call for a Christmas truce in Ukraine.鈥� A coalition of over 1,000 faith leaders in the United States has signed a statement demanding a temporary armistice in Ukraine.

The petitioners, 鈥渞epresenting a massive number of believers from every major tradition,鈥� hope that a temporary cease-fire could lead to 鈥渁 negotiated settlement鈥� that would bring 鈥渢he war to an end, greatly lessening the danger of nuclear war and mass, if not total, annihilation.鈥�

1914 Christmas truce

鈥淚n the spirit of the truce that occurred in 1914 during the First World War,鈥� the press release reads, 鈥渨e urge our government to take a leadership role in bringing the war in Ukraine to an end.鈥�

The statement refers to a similar Christmas truce that took place during World War I. On December 24, 1914, following 杏MAP导航 Benedict XV鈥檚 appeal for a cease fire, German and British troops, at the time fighting on the Western Front, 鈥渆merged from their trenches,鈥� and 鈥渧entured into 鈥榥o man鈥檚 land鈥� where they shared food and drinks; they sang Christmas carols and even played soccer together.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis' appeal

The appeal echoes the several pleas made by 杏MAP导航 Francis since the beginning of the conflict. Speaking at the end of the Wednesday General Audience, the 杏MAP导航 expressed his concern for the children of Ukraine, 鈥渟uffering so much from this war.鈥�