Pope Leo is inviting us to pray throughout December for Christian communities who live in war-torn or conflict zones. 
Leo XIV invites them to not feel abandoned and to be “seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope”, asking all Christians in the world “to not fall into indifference” and to be “builders of unity”.

Builders of hope, instruments of peace

Christians “living amidst wars and violence” should never feel alone, “even [when] surrounded by pain” the Holy Father says.
“May they never cease to feel the gentle kindness” of God’s presence, “and the prayers of their brothers and sisters in faith,” he continues.
“May they become seeds of reconciliation, builders of hope in ways both small and great, capable of forgiving and moving forward, of bridging divides and seeking justice with mercy”. 
Even in those parts of the world in which war seems to be the only rule of law, “where harmony seems impossible,” Christians are called to be “instruments of peace.” This goes not only for those living there, but for all of us as well, because Jesus “called blessed those who work for peace”.
The Pope asks the Holy Spirit not only to sustain “the faith of those who suffer” and to strengthen “their hope,” but also that he “not allow us to fall into indifference,” and to make us “builders of unity”. 

Faith amid the rubble

This month’s prayer intention, as well as Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey, focus on one of the most unstable areas in the world from a political, economic, and safety perspective. According to Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom Report 2025, the number of conflicts in the Middle East and the socio-economic conditions there expose religious minorities, and Christians in particular, to a condition of extreme vulnerability.
After two years of war, the population in Palestine is beyond exhaustion and homeless families have taken refuge in many churches.
The severe economic crisis in Lebanon has driven thousands of people to emigrate, emptying parishes and schools. In Syria and Iraq, reconstruction struggles to make progress due to political instability, insecurity and the lack of prospects for the young.
And yet, amid these difficulties, many small communities continue to safeguard the faith, serve the poor, and build bridges of coexistence with their neighbours who practice other religions. 
The images that accompany the prayer read by the Pope tell us specifically about this. They show us examples of an unshakable faith even amid the rubble.
We see celebrations in Iraqi villages come back to life after the war, the extraordinary strength of the parish community of Gaza even as they are being bombed, the indispensable work of Caritas in Lebanon among the poor and refugees in neighbouring countries, the spiritual oasis offered by Syrian monks.
Finally, within the context of the Holy Year 2025, The Pope Video acquires special relevance, since it allows us to learn about the prayer intentions the Pope holds in his heart. To properly receive the graces of the Jubilee indulgence, it is necessary to pray for the Pope’s intentions.

Where can the video be seen?

The Pope Video Official website
The Pope Video YouTube channel
The Pope Video Facebook page
The Pope Video on Twitter/X
The Pope Video on Instagram
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Official Prayer Platform ClickToPray