Vatican City, Dec 15, 2025 / 07:48 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday condemned a deadly attack on the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia, and entrusted the victims to God in prayer.
“Today I wish to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack carried out yesterday in Sydney against the Jewish community,” the pope said Dec. 15, referring to a shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach that left at least 15 people dead and some 40 others injured.
The Holy Father expressed his spiritual closeness to those affected by the violence, which occurred as more than 1,000 people had gathered to mark the start of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Lights — one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish calendar.
According to local media reports, two armed assailants opened fire on the crowd, sparking panic and a mass flight toward the beach and nearby businesses. One attacker was killed during the police response, while the second remains in critical condition. Authorities are investigating possible links between the attackers and a jihadist terrorist organization. Among the victims were a child and a Holocaust survivor.
The pope made his remarks during a Vatican audience with delegations that donated this year’s Christmas tree and Nativity scenes for St. Peter’s Square and the Paul VI Audience Hall. During the same encounter, Leo also reflected on the meaning of Christmas, urging the faithful to “let the tenderness of the Child Jesus illuminate our lives.”
Catholic leaders in Australia also responded with prayer and a strong condemnation of antisemitism. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney called for prayer and invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary in the immediate aftermath of the Dec. 14 shooting.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Hopefully, amidst all the mindlessly murderous anti-Jew and mindlessly murderous anti-Moslem atrocities, we Catholics and other Christians will see more clearly the uniquely universal value of the central message of our faith: “Jesus saves!”
Here is a video clip of a brilliant Moslem lady who found that truth –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoX0dqfN5Kk
Here is a video clip of a Jewish man who found that truth –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE7VRivMzy4
Our message to the world – “In Christ alone can we be united in peace.”
But does the Pope identify the perps? Of course not. Too risky. Expect another condemnation of violence when the next attack on Jews occurs (and it will).
Attacking, shooting, and killing innocent people is very disturbing. In the 21st century, human beings need to learn to respect the gift of life and live as fellow pilgrims on journey.
Trump cannot continue to carry the nuclear codes!
If you watched this disgraceful, un-presidential tirade on TV yesterday, you could not ignore evidence of Trump’s mental decline.
Rob Reiner’s body was still warm when…
President Donald Trump LASHED OUT at Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner after he and his wife were stabbed to death in their home, sparking pushback from several Republican lawmakers.
Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday morning that Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused by others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction.” Trump called Reiner “a tortured and struggling man.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-harsh-comments-rob-reiners-murder-spark-rare/story?id=128421268
New York Rep. Mike Lawler, a GOP moderate, called the entirety of the president’s post “wrong.” “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X.
Trump’s actions off the coast of Venezuela are illegal…
U.S. Domestic Law
For the U.S. to declare war, the Constitution requires approval from Congress. Congress has not declared war against Venezuela, nor has it passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to an invasion of Venezuela.
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+Trump%27s+invasion+of+Venesuela+legal&oq=is+Trump%27s+invasion+of+Venesuela+legal&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigATIJCAQQIRgKGKABMgkIBRAhGAoYoAEyBwgGECEYjwIyBwgHECEYjwLSAQk0MjQwM2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Where were you when Biden carried the you know, the thing, come on man.
Trump is notorious for saying outrageous things. It’s nothing new Mr. Morgan.
Dear Mrscracker. You say, “well, that’s Trump”. That is a cavalier and careless position, given that it comes from the Commander in Chief. He was so quick to trash Rob Reiner while his body was still warm. Caution…
Trump was convicted of fraud. “Regardless, it was a con job”.
He incited the US Capitol riot. ” You know he always starts with a bang”.
He pardoned 1500 Jan 6 criminal rioters. “He called them Patriots”.
President Trump had a fireside chat with the nation on Dec 17, 2025. Trump began his remarks with 14 words that captured the central theme of the night: “Good evening, America. Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it.” It was determined he lied many times in his attempt to convince the audience of his successes.
The president, responding to voters’ anxiety over the cost of living, laid blame at the feet of former President Joe Biden in the nearly 20 minutes that followed, mentioning his name seven times. The economy? Biden’s fault. Crime? Biden. Healthcare? Biden. Bad immigration policy?
If I am missing the point on these concerns, let me know specifically which ones.
God bless.
Mr. Morgan, respectfully I didn’t say” Well that’s Trump.” I said he’s notorious for saying outrageous things.
Plus ca change. It is what it is.
“The president, responding to voters’ anxiety over the cost of living, laid blame at the feet of former President Joe Biden in the nearly 20 minutes that followed, mentioning his name seven times.”
Just giving credit where credit is due.
Oh give us a break with your childish and contrived indignities. Reiner used his minor celebrity to issue an endless array of self-indulgent toxic screeds about “Christian Nationalism” and other phantom menaces.
He embodied the entitled left-wing Hollywood elite. Unfortunately, he passed down that sense of superiority and immunity to his offspring and then apparently dared to take issue with his adult brat’s lack of decorum.
A lot of people died the day Reiner met his end. Some were good and decent people. Many would welcome our prayers and we should offer them for the unknown dead. He was not good and decent, unknown and would reject our prayers.
He should have been called to account decades ago for his cultural, ethnic and religion appropriation as the lapsed Catholic Polish radical Michael Stivic. If Hank Azaria had to stop doing the voice of “Apoo”, certainly Reiner’s subversive portrayal should have been treated as unacceptable.
Given the number of leftists than lamented the near miss in Butler or celebrated Charlie kirk’s death, your complaints are hollow and shallow, and consistent with your habit of thread-hijacking.
Dear Pitchfork. Thanks. I await your rigorous and conclusive study of President Trump’s history of madness. I am not a RINO, rather a RINOP, a Republican In Need of a party.