Dec 25, 2023 - World

Pope Francis slams weapons industry during Christmas message

Dan Primack

Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi Message to World from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, on December 25, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. — Pope Francis delivers the Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" message from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City on Monday. Photo: Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Pope Francis on Monday took aim at the weapons industry as part of a Christmas Day message that also called for peace in Israel and Palestine.

What he's saying: "The human heart is weak and impulsive; if we find instruments of death in our hands, sooner or later we will use them," the pope said.

"And how can we even speak of peace when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?"

The big picture: Pope Francis has repeatedly decried the arms industry, including comments last year about how world hunger could be eradicated if weapons manufacturing money were reallocated.

Go deeper: Pope at Christmas Eve mass: "Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem"

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Pope Francis slams weapons industry during Christmas message

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