`` Peace calls for daily commitment , '' Francis says in his Christmas Urbi et Orbi message . Make it in Syria , Israel , the Palestinian territories , South Sudan , he says . The Urbi et Orbi address is customarily political and global , as its name indicates . Vatican TV estimated that about 150,000 attended the blessing in St. Peter 's Square , which marked Francis ' first Christmas celebration as pope . It was written by Pope John Paul II on December 25, 2000 to mark World Youth Day.
`` Peace calls for daily commitment , '' Francis says in his Christmas Urbi et Orbi message . Make it in Syria , Israel , the Palestinian territories , South Sudan , he says . The Urbi et Orbi address is customarily political and global , as its name indicates . It was written by Pope John Paul II on December 25, 2000 to mark World Youth Day.