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| Pope calls for end to violence in Syria | Pope calls for end to violence in Syria |
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| Pope Benedict has used his traditional Christmas message to call for an end to hostilities in Syria, which he said is "reaping innocent victims". | Pope Benedict has used his traditional Christmas message to call for an end to hostilities in Syria, which he said is "reaping innocent victims". |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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?" | 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?" |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In his Christmas Eve homily, Benedict lamented the fast pace of modern life, stating: "The faster we can move, the more efficient our timesaving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent. Our time is already completely full," he said. | |
| "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." | |
| 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." | 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." |