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    December 25, 2011

Pope Benedict Calls for End to Syria Bloodshed in Christmas Message

   VOA News
   Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the
   World) speech from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the
   Vatican, December 25, 2011. Photo: AP
   Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the
   World) speech from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the
   Vatican, December 25, 2011.

   Pope Benedict called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria in his
   traditional Christmas message as Christians worldwide celebrate the
   birth of Jesus more than 2,000 years ago.
   In his "Urbi et Orbi" address ("to the city and to the world"), he
   offered prayers for victims of floods in Asia and famine in the Horn of
   Africa before thousands of people at Saint Peter's Square in Rome
   Sunday.
   Pope Benedict also offered hope that Israel and the Palestinians could
   resume peace talks. The pontiff's message of peace came hours after
   deadly bombings at a church in Nigeria.
   At a Christmas Eve service in a packed St. Peter's Basilica Saturday,
   the pontiff asked the faithful to look beyond the holiday's superficial
   "glitter" to discover its true meaning.
   In the West Bank town of Bethlehem Sunday, tens of thousands of
   pilgrims celebrated Christmas by visiting the Grotto of the Nativity,
   in the town believed to be Jesus' birthplace.
   Christmas Eve celebrations in the West Bank town culminated with a
   celebration of Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity.
   Bethlehem's mayor Victor Batarseh says this Christmas carries special
   meaning for Palestinians as their bid for statehood moves forward.
   "We are celebrating this Christmas hoping that in the near future we'll
   get our right to self-determination, our right to establish our own
   democratic, secular, Palestinian state on the Palestinian land. That is
   why this Christmas is unique," he said.
   Early Saturday, visitors gathered around a giant Christmas tree at the
   town's central Manger Square, while a marching band performed.
   One German tourist said seeing Jesus' birthplace is important to her
   and her family.
   "It's really special, I mean, it's where the story began," said
   Christine. "And for me it's also kind of special for my family because
   my parents were here and my grandmother was here so it's special to be
   here.''

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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