Pope prays for peace in Christmas message
Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims of famine, floods and conflict in his Christmas message yesterday as a string of bomb attacks targeting churches in Nigeria killed dozens.
"Let us turn our gaze anew to the grotto of Bethlehem. The Child whom we contemplate is our salvation! He has brought to the world a universal message of reconciliation and peace," he told thousands of pilgrims in the Vatican.
The pope urged the international community to aid those suffering from hunger in the Horn of Africa, called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and said he hoped this year's Arab revolts would aid the "common good".
He also prayed for the victims of recent flooding in Thailand and the Philippines and said he hoped for increased dialogue in Myanmar "in the pursuit of shared solutions."
The pope's strongest words were against wars and in favour of reconciliation, particularly between Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land but also in the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the new nation of South Sudan.
"May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so many conflicts which even today stain the earth with blood... May he bring an end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed," he said.
"May he grant renewed vigour to all elements of society in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East as they strive to advance the common good," he added, following the revolts in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.
Comments