Pope delivers Christmas message
Pope Benedict XVI gave his Christmas message to thousands at the Vatican on Sunday, praying for victims of violence, famine and floods around the world.
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The pope addressed the bomb blasts that rocked Nigeria on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, calling them acts of “blind hatred.”
He urged the international community to help those in suffering, particularly in the Horn of Africa, and called for an end to the violence in Syria. He said he hoped that some common good would come out of the Arab Spring revolts.
“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 also prayed for the victims of tropical storm Washi, that killed hundreds in the Philippines last Saturday, and called for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as well as in South Sudan.
To conclude his message, the pope made Christmas greetings in 65 languages, welcoming cheers from the crowd.
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