Pope Leo XIV condemns 'antisemitic violence' after massacre in Sydney: 'We must eliminate hatred'

Pope Leo XIV connected Monday condemned "antisemitic violence" successful the aftermath of the wide shooting successful Sydney, Australia, successful which a begetter and lad opened occurrence connected a assemblage attending a Hanukkah celebration.

The pope prayed for the victims and the "gift of bid and fraternity" this vacation play arsenic helium spoke during an assemblage with the donors of the Vatican’s Christmas decorations.

"We commune for those who endure from warfare and violence, successful peculiar contiguous I privation to entrust to the Lord the victims of the violent onslaught successful Sydney against the Jewish community," the pontiff said connected Monday.

"Enough of these forms of antisemitic violence!" helium continued. "We indispensable destruct hatred from our hearts."

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Pope Leo XIV hugs a kid astatine the extremity of an assemblage with donors of the Christmas histrion and nativity country acceptable up successful St. Peter's Square, successful the Paul VI Hall, astatine the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP)

Leo made akin prayers successful an authoritative telegram of condolence sent to the archbishop of Sydney, Most. Rev. Anthony Fisher.

The pope prayed "with renewed anticipation that those tempted to unit volition acquisition conversion and question the way of bid and solidarity," according to the telegram signed by the Vatican caput of state.

At slightest 15 victims were killed and dozens much were wounded successful the massacre implicit the play connected Sydney’s Bondi Beach, wherever hundreds had gathered for a "Chanukah by the Sea" lawsuit celebrating the opening of the Jewish festival. One of the gunmen was changeable and killed by constabulary portion the different was hospitalized with injuries.

A antheral identified arsenic Ahmed al Ahmed has been praised arsenic a leader for tackling and disarming 1 of the gunmen. He was changeable but is recovering successful a hospital.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the shooting arsenic an enactment of antisemitic coercion and vowed to fortify the country's already strict weapon laws.

Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Vatican City State astatine the extremity of an assemblage with donors of the Christmas histrion and nativity country acceptable up astatine the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP)

The onslaught was an "act of axenic evil, an enactment of antisemitism, an enactment of terrorism," Albanese said.

Leo besides issued a beardown anti-abortion connection during the assemblage with the donors of the Vatican's Christmas decorations, which helium described arsenic a motion of "faith and hope."

The pope said the evergreen fir trees donated by assorted Italian regions "are a motion of beingness and callback the anticipation that isn’t lacking adjacent successful the wintertime cold."

He said different motion of beingness was reflected successful the Nativity country successful the Vatican’s assemblage hall, which was donated by Costa Rica. It featured 28,000 ribbons representing embryos that were not aborted.

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Ribbons representing lives saved from termination according to Catholic groups are seen connected Nacimiento Gaudium, a nativity country acceptable during an assemblage led by Pope Leo XIV astatine the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP)

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"Each of these 28,000 colored ribbons that decorate the country correspond a beingness saved from termination acknowledgment to the supplication and enactment provided by Catholic organizations to galore mothers successful need," the pontiff said.

Leo thanked the creator for the connection affirming that "life is protected from conception."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.