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Pope Leo XIV On Monday he condemned “anti-Semitic violence” in the wake of the mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, in which a father and son opened fire on a crowd attending a Hanukkah celebration.
The pope prayed for the victims and the “gift of peace and fraternity” this holiday season as he spoke during an audience with donors of Vatican Christmas decorations.
“We pray for those who suffer from war and violence, especially today I want to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack in Sydney against the Jewish community,” the pontiff said on Monday.
“Enough of these forms of anti-Semitic violence!” he continued. “We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”
Pope Leo XIV hugs a child at the end of an audience with the donors of the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene set up in St. Peter’s Square, in the Paul VI Hall, in the Vatican, on Monday, December 15, 2025. (AP)
Leo made similar pleas in an official condolence telegram sent to the archbishop of Sydney, Most. Rev. Anthony Fisher.
The pope prayed “with a renewed hope that those tempted to violence will convert and seek the path of peace and solidarity”, according to the telegram signed by the Vatican Secretary of State.
At least 15 victims were killed and dozens more injured in the weekend massacre at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where hundreds had gathered for a “Chanukah by the Sea” event celebrating the start of the Jewish holiday. One of the gunmen was killed by police while the other was hospitalized with injuries.
A man identified as Ahmed al Ahmed was hailed as a hero for confronting and disarming one of the gunmen. He was shot, but is recovering in a hospital.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the shooting as an act of anti-Semitic terrorism and vowed to enforce the country’s strict gun laws.
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Sister Raffaella Petrini, president of the Vatican City State, after an audience with the donors of the Christmas tree and nativity scene installed in the Vatican, Monday, December 15, 2025. (AP)
The attack was an “act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism,” Albanese said.
Leo also issued a strong anti-abortion message during the audience with the donors of the Vatican’s Christmas decorations, which he described as a sign of “faith and hope.”
The pope said that the evergreen trees donated by different Italian regions “are a sign of life and remind us of the hope that is not missing even in the cold of winter.”
He said that another sign of life was reflected in the Nativity scene in the audience room of the Vatican, which was donated by Costa Rica. It featured 28,000 ribbons representing embryos that were not aborted.
GAL GADOT, ASHTON KUTCHER CONDEMN ANTI-SEMITIC TERROR ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH HANUKKAH EVENT
Ribbons representing lives saved by abortion according to Catholic groups are seen on Nacimiento Gaudium, a nativity scene set during an audience led by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Monday, December 15, 2025. (AP)
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“Each of these 28,000 colorful ribbons that decorate the scene represent a life saved from abortion thanks to the prayer and support provided by Catholic organizations to many mothers in need,” said the pontiff.
Leo thanked the artist for the message stating that “life is protected by conception.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
