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Pope delivers Christmas message Pope calls for end to conflicts
(30 minutes later)
Thousands of Christians have gathered in St Peter's Square in the Vatican to hear Pope Benedict XVI deliver his Christmas message. Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for just solutions to the conflicts in Middle East, Iraq, Africa and elsewhere in his annual Christmas message.
It comes as millions of Christians around the world celebrate the traditional day of Christ's birth. He denounced terrorism and violence that victimised children and women.
In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the Biblical site of Jesus' birth, worshippers celebrated midnight Mass. His address came as millions of Christians around the world celebrated the traditional day of Christ's birth.
In the Pope's own midnight Mass at St Peter's Basilica, he urged people to find time for God and the needy. Earlier, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the biblical site of Jesus's birth, thousands of worshippers celebrated midnight Mass.
Tourist revival 'Joy, hope and peace'
A new floodlit Nativity scene was officially unveiled in the square in front of the basilica. The Pope spoke from a balcony in St Peter's Basilica in Rome, overlooking the square where thousands of people had gathered in the winter sunshine.
This year the larger-than-life-size statues of the baby Jesus and his family have been placed in a Nativity scene set not in a Bethlehem stable, but in a room in Joseph's house in Nazareth. He said he hoped the "light of Christ" would "shine forth and bring consolation to those who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war".
People queued to enter the grotto under the Church of the Nativity href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7159700?redirect=7159707.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Scenes in Bethlehem Vatican officials say the change was made to illustrate the notion that Jesus was born everywhere, not just in Bethlehem. The Pope offered his traditional midnight Mass href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7159700?redirect=7159713.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Scenes at St Peter's
Local officials in Bethlehem say double the number of pilgrims have visited this year compared to last. In his Urbi et Orbi speech (Latin for 'To the City and the World') he said: "May this Christmas truly be for all people a day of joy, hope and peace."
In Bethlehem fears about security and Israel's West Bank barrier - an imposing eight-metre (24ft) concrete wall separating the town from Jerusalem - have discouraged potential visitors in recent years. He urged political leaders to have the "wisdom and courage to seek and find humane, just and lasting solutions" to "ethnic, religious and political tensions... [which are] destroying the internal fabric of many countries and embittering international relations".
During the second Palestinian uprising, which started in September 2000, tourism collapsed. The address was broadcast live on television to dozens of countries and was followed by greetings in about 60 languages.
But with the relative stability of the last two years, tourists and pilgrims are returning to the town in larger numbers. Abbas attends
"Between 25 to 35,000 pilgrims and tourists are going to be around today and tomorrow - twice as much as last year... Today we have about 60 to 70% of the normal tourism and pilgrimage to the city," Victor Batarseh, the mayor of Bethlehem said. In the Pope's midnight Mass at the basilica, he urged people to find time for God and the needy.
"This year is much better than the last seven years for tourism," local shopkeeper Jacques Aman told the Associated Press news agency. "The atmosphere is better in general. There is relative calm, from the security standpoint," he added. In front of St Peter's Basilica, a new floodlit Nativity scene was officially unveiled.
But the BBC's Bethany Bell says there are still far fewer tourists than there used to be before the uprising and that many of those celebrating outside the Church of the Nativity were local people. This year, the larger-than-life-size statues of the baby Jesus and his family have been placed in a Nativity scene set not in a Bethlehem stable but in a room in Joseph's house in Nazareth.
There was still a heavy police presence, and before worshippers arrived bomb squads swept cars and buildings for explosives. Vatican officials say the change was made to illustrate the notion that Jesus was born everywhere, not just in Bethlehem.
Message of peace
Christmas carols played to a crowded Manger Square, in front of the Church of the Nativity - built on the site of the stable where Jesus is said to have been born.
Christmas in picturesUK troops join festivitiesChristmas in picturesUK troops join festivities
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a Muslim, joined the midnight Mass in Bethlehem and emphasised that not only Christians were celebrating the festival.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a Muslim, joined the midnight Mass in Bethlehem and emphasised that not only Christians were celebrating the festival.
"The new year, God willing, will be a year of security and economic stability," he said."The new year, God willing, will be a year of security and economic stability," he said.
"We pray next year will be the year of independence for the Palestinian people," he added."We pray next year will be the year of independence for the Palestinian people," he added.
Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Catholic leader in the Holy Land, called for peace in the Middle East as he led the Mass.Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Catholic leader in the Holy Land, called for peace in the Middle East as he led the Mass.
"This land belongs to God. It must not be for some a land of life and for others a land of occupation and a political prison," he said in a sermon delivered in his native Arabic."This land belongs to God. It must not be for some a land of life and for others a land of occupation and a political prison," he said in a sermon delivered in his native Arabic.
Security fears
Local officials in Bethlehem say double the number of pilgrims have visited this year compared to last.
Fears about security and Israel's West Bank barrier - an imposing eight-metre (24ft) concrete wall separating the town from Jerusalem - have discouraged potential visitors in recent years.
During the second Palestinian uprising, which started in September 2000, tourism collapsed.
But with the relative stability of the last two years, tourists and pilgrims are returning to the town in larger numbers.
But the BBC's Bethany Bell says there are still far fewer tourists than there used to be before the uprising and that many of those celebrating outside the Church of the Nativity were local people.
There was still a heavy police presence, and before worshippers arrived bomb squads swept cars and buildings for explosives.