As Christians around the world celebrated Christmas on Wednesday, Pope Francis called for peace, asking that cease-fires be put in place where wars rage, and that world leaders forgive the debts “that burden the poorest countries.”

Speaking to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City for his Christmas blessing and message, Francis returned to the topic of two military conflicts that have dominated his thoughts — and his public remarks — for many months.

In Ukraine, he called for “the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

And he called for “the sound of arms be silenced in the Middle East.” His thoughts, he said, were with Christians in the Gaza Strip, “where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave” for all who live there. Francis urged the delivery of aid “to the people worn out by hunger and by war” in Gaza, as well as a cease-fire and the release of the hostages who have been held since the Hamas-led attack on Israel 14 months ago.

He made the remarks a day after the start of Roman Catholic Church’s Holy Year, known as a Jubilee, which takes place every quarter century. On Tuesday evening, Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica so that the first pilgrims could go through. Millions more are expected to follow over the year.