Pope Francis expressed hope, during his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday, that a mutually agreed solution will be found for Cyprus.

The launch of the Jubilee year 2025 marked the theme of this year’s Christmas message and context, as the Pope opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica at the start of yesterday’s Christmas Mass during the Night.

In the “Urbi et Orbi” — “To the City and the World” — he described the launch as a symbol of God’s mercy that breaks down walls of division and dispels hatred.

“May the Jubilee be an opportunity to tear down all walls of separation: the ideological walls that so often mark political life, and also physical walls, such as the division that has affected the island of Cyprus for fifty years now and has rent its human and social fabric. It is my hope that a mutually agreed solution will be found, a solution that can put an end to the division in full respect for the rights and dignity of all the Cypriot communities”, the Pontiff added.

Pope Francis urged “people of all nations” to find the courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome the divisions” that are afflicting the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, and from Africa to Asia.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: Parikiaki.com