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Pope laments global instability Pope laments global instability
(30 minutes later)
Pope Benedict XVI has called for peace in the Middle East and stability in Africa in his Christmas Day message.Pope Benedict XVI has called for peace in the Middle East and stability in Africa in his Christmas Day message.
Speaking from St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the Pope lamented the plight of Zimbabweans, "trapped... in a political and social crisis". Speaking from St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the pontiff said the "horizon seems once again bleak" for Israel and the Palestinians.
He also decried instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia. The Pope decried instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia, and lamented the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans.
The Pope called for solidarity in the face of an ever more uncertain future, in an address broadcast live on TV. He also called for solidarity in the face of an ever more uncertain future.
"If people look only to their own interests, our world will certainly fall apart," he told tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter's Square."If people look only to their own interests, our world will certainly fall apart," he told tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter's Square.
At the end of his Urbi et Orbi (Latin for "To the City and the World") speech, the Pope issued Christmas greetings in 64 languages. Speaking in Italian, the Pope prayed for the opponents of what he called the "twisted logic of conflict and violence" to prevail.
Earlier, in his Midnight Mass, the head of the Roman Catholic Church called for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East. "May the divine light of Bethlehem radiate throughout the Holy Land, where the horizon seems once again bleak for Israelis and Palestinians," he said.
His remarks echoed those of his earlier Midnight Mass, in which he called for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East.
The Pope's address came amid an escalation of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, after Hamas leaders there declared an end to a ceasefire between the two sides.
Pope Benedict plans to visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories next year.
Turning to Africa, the pontiff said Zimbabweans had been "trapped for all too long in a political and social crisis which, sadly, keeps worsening".
He also decried the "interminable sufferings" of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia. These, he said, were the "tragic consequences of the lack of stability and peace" there.
At the end of his Urbi et Orbi (Latin for "To the City and the World") speech, the 81-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church issued Christmas greetings in 64 languages.
The Pope plans to visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories next year.The Pope plans to visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories next year.
Most of the world's 2.1 billion Christians mark Christmas this week.Most of the world's 2.1 billion Christians mark Christmas this week.
Others, chiefly from among the 200 million Orthodox Christians who use the Julian Calendar for their feast days, celebrate the Nativity on 7 January.Others, chiefly from among the 200 million Orthodox Christians who use the Julian Calendar for their feast days, celebrate the Nativity on 7 January.