In light of Pope Francis’s offer to mediate unconditional peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican, it is noteworthy that the Catholic News Agency (CNA) featured a lead story on the Christmas Truce of 1914. They tell some of the history of the event—stories of how soldiers from both German and Allied warring sides emerged from their trenches on Christmas to greet each other, sing carols, and even in one instance play soccer together. Pope Benedict XV had played a role in promoting such a truce at the time, but unfortunately for many lives on both sides, the truce didn’t hold and the devastating war continued for four more years.
The lesson is clear: There is a natural yearning for peace from all sane quarters—even among soldiers fighting each other on the ground.
