The specter of a "world war," fragmented into its "pieces" and becoming an "ever more concrete threat," loomed over Pope Francis' address to the 184 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. Received in the Hall of Blessings for the traditional New Year’s greeting, the Pope tackled the most pressing issues in international affairs. As a result of a cold, the Pontiff delegated the reading of his speech to Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches. In his lengthy speech, Francis explains the Holy See's perspective on a number of global challenges, focusing on the personal and societal dramas unfolding in various parts of the world. The Pope emphasizes the bombing of civilians, the attacks on hospitals and infrastructure, and the deaths of children due to the cold in Gaza and Ukraine. But his attention also stretches to the Horn of Africa, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Haiti, not to mention Syria and Lebanon. Francis condemns religious persecution and anti-Semitism, which continue to undermine peaceful cooperation in many parts of the globe. In spite of the dramatic image, the Pope also emphasizes some positive indicators, including the resumption of negotiations for the Iran nuclear agreement, which could contribute to the creation of a "safer world for all". Nevertheless, the modern era is rife with hazards, such as artificial intelligence, cancel culture, privacy violations, and false information. The latter, the Pontiff says, create "a climate of suspicion that foments hatred" and jeopardize "the stability of entire nations". Francis highlights "tragic examples" of this climate, including attacks on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and US President-elect Donald Trump. His message to ambassadors is an invitation to consider both communal and individual responsibilities in building a future of peace and dialogue.