Pope Francis on Wednesday urged leaders of wealthy nations to cancel or reduce the debts of poorer countries, marking the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee Year with a call for greater global solidarity.
“The Jubilee calls us to translate this remission of debts into a social level so that no person, no family, no people is crushed by debts,” the pope said in his address to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square. “I encourage the rulers of countries with a Christian tradition to set a good example by cancelling or reducing as much as possible the debts of the poorest nations,” he added.
In his speech, the pope also expressed hope for an end to global conflicts in 2025. “Let us pray for an end to the fighting on all fronts and a decisive move toward peace and reconciliation,” Francis said. “I am thinking of the tormented in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Myanmar, Kivu, and so many warring peoples.”
During the New Year’s Day Mass, Pope Francis also reiterated his stance on abortion, urging Catholics to refuse the procedure.
His comments on abortion have recently sparked controversy. In September, during a trip to Belgium, he referred to the country’s abortion laws as “homicidal.” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called the remarks “totally unacceptable” and summoned the Vatican’s ambassador to Belgium.
The pope’s call for debt relief and peace comes amid growing global concerns over economic inequality and ongoing conflicts in several regions.