UPI
Pope Francis urged world leaders to be more open to dialogue to heal the world’s many “conflicts, crises, and disagreements” during his annual Christmas address Saturday at the Vatican.
Once again speaking outdoors from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after last year’s speech was moved indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis said in his Urbi et Orbi address the world needs dialogue to solve multiple ongoing crises, especially during a pandemic that has intensified physical and spiritual isolation.
“Sisters and brothers, what would our world be like without the patient dialogue of the many generous persons who keep families and communities together?” he said. “In this time of pandemic, we have come to realize this more and more.
“Our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried; there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and do things together…
