Thousands attend Pope Francis' Christmas address in which he prays for end to pandemic, 'conflict'

Pope Francis in his Christmas Day address prayed for an end to the coronavirus pandemic and universal health care including vaccines for the poor and called upon world leaders to continue to try to end international conflicts.

"Grant health to the infirm and inspire all men and women of good will to seek the best ways possible to overcome the current health crisis and its effects," he said. "Open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care – and vaccines in particular – are provided to those peoples who need them most."

COVID-19 cases spiking in Italy and rain limited the crowd to just a couple thousand this year in St. Peter's Square for the annual "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and the world") Christmas address, according to the Associated Press. 

However, as with many celebrations this holiday season, attendees appeared happy just to be able to be at the square in person, compared to last year when Francis delivered a televised address from inside the Apostolic Palace.

Francis pointed to ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, newly flaring tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia, and an "unprecedented crisis" in Lebanon.

"We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence" he said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, the wire service also reports.