Pope Urges Peace in Christmas Message

In his annual Christmas Day message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI made a plea for peace on earth, and an end to various conflicts across the globe. An estimated 100,000 people gathered in the square outside of St. Peter’s Basilica and braved the rain to hear the Pope’s sermon. “May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the Land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful co-existence,” Benedict told the crowd. He also urged Christian communities in China and Iraq to be strong, despite facing hardships, called for “lasting peace and authentic progress” for Somalia, Darfur and Ivory Coast, and he urged greater respect for human rights in Afghanistan and Pakistan and called for reconciliation between North and South Korea.