Thousands gather for Pope’s traditional Christmas message
Posted December 25, 2011 9:06 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thousands of people gathered at the centre of St. Peter’s Basilica for the chance to hear Pope Benedict XVI deliver his traditional Christmas message.
The Pope called for world peace and the end to bloodshed around the world.
He also took time to pray for the victims of the recent flooding in Thailand and the Philippines, calling on people to send more aid there and to the Horn of Africa, which has been ravaged by famine this year.
The pontiff also called for a return to peace talks between Israel and Palestine, while condemning the violence in Syria.
“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.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims converged on Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas at the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
