On Saturday 21 December, Pope Francis condemned the bombing of children in Gaza, a day after  an Israeli government minister publicly denounced the pontiff for suggesting the global community should study whether the military offensive there constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people.

He began his address to the Catholic cardinals who lead the Vatican's various departments by referring to Israeli airstrikes on Friday that killed at least 25 Palestinians in Gaza.

"Yesterday, children were bombed," said the pope. "This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart."

Francis also said that the Catholic bishop of Jerusalem, known as a patriarch, had tried to enter the Gaza Strip on Friday to visit Catholics there, but was denied entry.

With the deteriorating situation in mind, Pax Christi has written to Catholic and Anglican bishops across the country as well as other religious and political leaders bringing the Call it has issued to their attention and inviting them to speak truth to power. We eagerly await their response, and will update you in due course.

We wish you all a joyful and peaceful Christmas.