Prior to offering his blessing "urbi et orbi," Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine, the Holy Land, Lebanon and Syria, and in Africa.

The pope also voiced concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza in his Christmas address, labeling the situation "extremely grave."

Pope Francis has called for a “negotiation” to end the war in Ukraine in a Christmas Day message where he appealed for weapons to be laid down in global conflicts and reconciliation between enemies.

Palestinian health officials say Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed 38 people and injured 137 others in the past 24 hours. Among the dead are five journalists with the Al-Quds Today channel who were killed in an Israeli strike on their broadcasting van near the Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

TV said journalists were killed in a strike in Nuseirat in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a vehicle carrying “an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell.”

The United States said it struck targets in Yemen's rebel-held capital in December, hours after a Huthi rebel missile wounded people in Israel. But a nighttime picture of a massive fire repeatedly shared on social media does not show the US strike.