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The Pope has called for peace, fellowship and gratitude in an appearance on the BBC's Thought For The Day segment. In a pre-recorded message which was played during the show's religious slot, Pope Franics also urged people across the globe to practice 'hope and kindness' heading into the new year. The message comes just days into the beginning of the Catholic Church's year-long celebrations marking the Holy Year jubilee, a centuries old tradition which occurs just once every 25 years. Thought for the Day is a regular segment on BBC Radio 4's Today programme which sees leaders and members from all major faiths share their perspectives on the world. Professor Irene Tracey of the University of Oxford was the programme's guest editor and had invited the head of the Catholic Church to appear on the segment. Francis recorded the message of well wishes in Italian, kingslot96 before it was then translated into English for UK radio audiences.  In the message, Francis said: 'Hope and kindness touch the very heart of the Gospel and show us the path to follow in our behaviour. A world full of hope and kindness is a more beautiful world. 'A society that looks to the future with confidence and treats people with respect and empathy is more humane'. Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican City, 25 December 2024 In a pre-recorded message on the BBC's Thought for the Day, which was played during the show's religious slot, Pope Franics urged people across the globe to practice 'hope and kindness' Hope was a central tenet of Francis' message, with his Holiness saying: 'Even though we do not know what tomorrow may hold for us, we should not look to the future with pessimism and resignation. 'Wars, social injustices, and the many forms of violence we are exposed to every day should not dishearten us nor draw us towards scepticism and discouragement'. Kindness was also a prominet theme in his remarks, as the Pope reminded listeners that it was 'not a diplomatic strategy' but instead represented a 'form of love that opens hearts to acceptance, and helps us all to become more humble'. Read More Pope Francis calls on the world 'to silence sounds of arms' in his Christmas message The Pope also made reference to British author G K Chesterton by sharing his invitation to 'take the elements of life with gratitude and not for granted'. He added: 'I hope that during this Jubilee we can practice kindness as a form of love to connect with others. 'May the New Year bring us peace, fellowship and gratitude.' Pope Francis has appeared on the Thought for the Day segment once before in October 2021 prior to the COP26 climate summit. On that occasion, he called for world leaders to take action and help preserve the planet for future generations. Pope Francis is just the second leader of the Catholic Church to appear on the BBC's Thought for the Day segment The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Christmas celebrations, at St Peter's Square He is only the second Pope to appear on the segment after his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI delivered a Christmas Eve message in 2010.   The appearance comes just days after Pope Francis used his traditional Christmas message to urge 'all people of all nations' to find courage during this Holy Year 'to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions'. The pontiff's 'Urbi et Orbi' - 'To the City and the World' - address served as a summary of the woes facing the world this year, with Francis calling for broad reconciliation, 'even (with) our enemies'. 'I invite every individual, and all people of all nations ... to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,' the pope said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to throngs of people below. He called for arms to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and in the Middle East, singling out Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, 'particularly in Gaza where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave' as well as Lebanon and Syria 'at this most delicate time'. Francis also repeated his calls for the release of hostages taken from Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

The Pope has called for peace, fellowship and gratitude in an appearance on the BBC's Thought For The Day segment. In a pre-recorded message which was played during the show's religious slot, Pope Franics also urged people across the globe to practice 'hope and kindness' heading into the new year. The message comes just days into the beginning of the Catholic Church's year-long celebrations marking the Holy Year jubilee, a centuries old tradition which occurs just once every 25 years. Thought for the Day is a regular segment on BBC Radio 4's Today programme which sees leaders and members from all major faiths share their perspectives on the world. Professor Irene Tracey of the University of Oxford was the programme's guest editor and had invited the head of the Catholic Church to appear on the segment. Francis recorded the message of well wishes in Italian, before it was then translated into English for UK radio audiences.  In the message, Francis said: 'Hope and kindness touch the very heart of the Gospel and show us the path to follow in our behaviour. A world full of hope and kindness is a more beautiful world. 'A society that looks to the future with confidence and treats people with respect and empathy is more humane'. Pope Francis leads the traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican City, 25 December 2024 In a pre-recorded message on the BBC's Thought for the Day, which was played during the show's religious slot, Pope Franics urged people across the globe to practice 'hope and kindness' Hope was a central tenet of Francis' message, with his Holiness saying: 'Even though we do not know what tomorrow may hold for us, we should not look to the future with pessimism and resignation. 'Wars, social injustices, and the many forms of violence we are exposed to every day should not dishearten us nor draw us towards scepticism and discouragement'. Kindness was also a prominet theme in his remarks, as the Pope reminded listeners that it was 'not a diplomatic strategy' but instead represented a 'form of love that opens hearts to acceptance, and helps us all to become more humble'. Read More Pope Francis calls on the world 'to silence sounds of arms' in his Christmas message The Pope also made reference to British author G K Chesterton by sharing his invitation to 'take the elements of life with gratitude and not for granted'. He added: kingslot96 'I hope that during this Jubilee we can practice kindness as a form of love to connect with others. 'May the New Year bring us peace, fellowship and gratitude.' Pope Francis has appeared on the Thought for the Day segment once before in October 2021 prior to the COP26 climate summit. On that occasion, he called for world leaders to take action and help preserve the planet for future generations. Pope Francis is just the second leader of the Catholic Church to appear on the BBC's Thought for the Day segment The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Christmas celebrations, at St Peter's Square He is only the second Pope to appear on the segment after his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI delivered a Christmas Eve message in 2010.   The appearance comes just days after Pope Francis used his traditional Christmas message to urge 'all people of all nations' to find courage during this Holy Year 'to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions'. The pontiff's 'Urbi et Orbi' - 'To the City and the World' - address served as a summary of the woes facing the world this year, with Francis calling for broad reconciliation, 'even (with) our enemies'. 'I invite every individual, and all people of all nations ... to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,' the pope said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to throngs of people below. He called for arms to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and in the Middle East, singling out Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, 'particularly in Gaza where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave' as well as Lebanon and Syria 'at this most delicate time'. Francis also repeated his calls for the release of hostages taken from Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.