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Pope says hope mustn't die in Syria and Nigeria Pope calls for end to violence in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
Pope Benedict used his Christmas message to the world to say people should never lose hope for peace, even in conflict-riven Syria and in Nigeria where he spoke of "terrorism" against Christians. Pope Benedict has used his traditional Christmas message to call for an end to hostilities in Syria, which he said is "reaping innocent victims".
Marking the eighth Christmas season of his pontificate, the 85-year-old read his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square and to millions of others watching around the world. "Once again I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict," said the pope in his address to thousands from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
Delivering Christmas greetings in 65 languages, Benedict used the Biblical analogy of the "good soil" to underscore his view that the hope represented by Christmas should never die, even in the most dire situations. The message followed the homily Benedict gave at mass in St Peter's on Christmas Eve, when he likened Joseph and Mary to today's refugees and migrants, stating: "The great moral question of our attitude towards the homeless, towards refugees and migrants, takes on a deeper dimension: do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof?"
"This good earth exists, and today too, in 2012, from this earth truth has sprung up! Consequently, there is hope in the world, a hope in which we can trust, even at the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations," he said. Sounding hoarse at times, the 85-year-old pontiff also called on Christmas Day for Israelis and Palestinians to find the "courage to end long years of conflict and division". He said he hoped countries undergoing change following the Arab spring, "especially the beloved land of Egypt, blessed by the childhood of Jesus", would work to build societies "founded on justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of every person".
In his virtual tour of the some of the world's trouble spots, he reserved his toughest words for Syria, Nigeria and Mali. Benedict called for greater respect for religious communities in China, which does not allow Catholics to respect papal authority, and called for peace in Mali. He also cited "savage acts of terrorism" in Nigeria and "brutal attacks" against civilians and places of worship in Kenya.
"Yes, may peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims," he said. The Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's, traditionally held at midnight, was brought forward to 10pm to give Benedict more rest before his Christmas Day speech. Smiling to pilgrims and dressed in gold-coloured vestments, Benedict was pushed up the aisle of St Peter's on a wheeled platform which he has adopted to save energy.
"Once again I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict." In his Christmas Eve homily, Benedict lamented the fast pace of modern life, stating: "The faster we can move, the more efficient our time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent. Our time is already completely full," he said.
The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics also condemned conflicts in Mali and Nigeria, two countries where Islamist groups have waged violent campaigns. "There is no room for him. Not even in our feelings and desires is there any room for him. We want ourselves. We want what we can seize hold of, we want happiness that is within our reach, we want our plans and purposes to succeed. We are so 'full' of ourselves that there is no room left for God."
"May the birth of Christ favour the return of peace in Mali and that of concord in Nigeria, where savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians," he said. The pope did find time on Christmas Eve to tweet a response to a question about Christmas traditions in his own family. "The cribs that we built in our home gave me much pleasure," he wrote. "We added figures each year and used moss for decoration."
Benedict also held out a Christmas olive branch to the new government in China, asking is members to "esteem the contributions of religions". China does not allow its Catholics to recognise the pope's authority, forcing them to be members of a parallel state-backed Church.
Late on Monday night, Benedict presided over a Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica, where he urged people to find room for God in their fast-paced lives filled with the latest technological gadgets.
"Do we have time and space for him? Do we not actually turn away God himself? We begin to do so when we have no time for him," he said.