Pope Leo

While speaking to thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered in St.

Peter's Square, Pope Leo called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue, calling the war in the Middle East horrific and atrocious.

The pontiff didn't cite the U.S.

or Israel by name, but his comments were the strongest to date, and he reminded the leaders involved in the conflict that violence can never lead to justice, stability, and peace.

While lamenting the loss of thousands of innocent people, Leo also highlighted the displacement of millions in Lebanon, where aid groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis.

Pam Pusso, Fox News.

Pope Leo, the first American pope, used a speech to foreign ambassadors to the Vatican to warn against the weakening of international organizations, including the United Nations.

set up to maintain peace after the Second World War.

A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, Leo told the room of 184 ambassadors.

War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.

He spoke out against the United States' sudden ouster of Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, and called for the will of Venezuelans to be respected and for the safeguarding of their civil and human rights,

Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.

It's NPR.

Indeed, he is our peace.

In his sermon at St.

Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo made what he called a, quote, timely reminder that there is, quote, no room for God if there's no room for the human person.

To refuse one is to refuse the other, he said.

Leo has made care for immigrants a theme of his papacy, and this first American pope has criticised President Trump's immigration crackdown.

Leo also quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, saying that Christmas rekindles hope.

It's with this hope, perhaps, that Pope Leo addressed this week the other focus of his papacy, peace, calling twice for warring sides across the globe to lay down their weapons,