Celebrate Christmas ‘with Ukraine in your hearts,’ pope says, urging aid December 14, 2022By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Celebrating Christmas is important and beautiful, Pope Francis said, but he asked people to spend less on their celebrations this year and donate the savings to help the people of Ukraine. As he has done at his general audiences since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the pope asked pilgrims and visitors Dec. 14 to express their “closeness to the martyred Ukrainian people, persevering in fervent prayer for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering so much.” “Brothers and sisters, I tell you, they are suffering so very, very much in Ukraine,” the pope said. “I want to draw your attention to Christmas, which is coming, and to the festivities,” he said. “It’s beautiful to celebrate Christmas and have parties, but let’s reduce the level of Christmas spending a bit; let’s have a simpler Christmas with more modest gifts.” And, the pope said, “let’s send what we save to the people of Ukraine, who are suffering so much.” People in the country are hungry and cold, he said. “And many die because there are no doctors and nurses available,” the pope said. Celebrate Christmas “at peace with the Lord,” he said, and “with Ukraine in your hearts.” Read More Crisis in Ukraine Ukrainian archbishop meets with military officials on missing priests, detained civilians Pope calls for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, laments plight of children in war in CBS interview Biden signs $95 billion aid package critical for Ukraine’s defense, global humanitarian needs ‘Power of prayer’ behind passage of U.S. aid to Ukraine bill, say Ukrainian Catholics Foreign aid deal passes House after months of negotiations ‘We need to heal not ideas, but hearts,’ says prelate after Russian strike on civilians Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print