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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Archbishop highlights plight of persecuted Christians | Archbishop highlights plight of persecuted Christians |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury has used his first Christmas Day sermon to highlight "injustices" facing Britain's poor and victims of world conflicts. | |
| The Most Reverend Justin Welby, also condemned the treatment of Christian communities in the Middle East. | |
| "They are driven into exile from a region in which their presence has always been essential," he will say. | "They are driven into exile from a region in which their presence has always been essential," he will say. |
| The Archbishop of Westminster also talked about the plight of Christians who are persecuted for their faith. | |
| Archbishop Welby, who was enthroned in March, spoke at morning service in Canterbury Cathedral. | |
| He said: "Christians are attacked and massacred and we see terrible news in South Sudan, where political ambitions have led towards ethnic conflict. On Saturday I was speaking to a bishop under siege, in a compound full of the dying." | |
| The Archbishop challenged "the causes of poverty". | |
| The former oil company executive - who this year launched a campaign against payday lending firms - referred to "injustices at home... even in a recovering economy". | |
| He added: "Christians, the servants of a vulnerable and poor saviour, need to act to serve and love the poor, they need also to challenge the causes of poverty." | |
| Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, in his address, many, especially in the Middle East, were risking their lives to worship. | |
| Speaking at Christmas midnight Mass in Westminster Cathedral, Archbishop Nichols told the congregation to give "a special thought and prayer" to those Christians. | Speaking at Christmas midnight Mass in Westminster Cathedral, Archbishop Nichols told the congregation to give "a special thought and prayer" to those Christians. |
| "Christians are the most widely persecuted religious group in the world today and this evening we think especially of the Middle East, especially of Egypt, Iraq and Syria," he said. | "Christians are the most widely persecuted religious group in the world today and this evening we think especially of the Middle East, especially of Egypt, Iraq and Syria," he said. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury also posted a brief Christmas video message on the photo-sharing website Instagram and tweeted a link to the clip through his Twitter account. | |
| He said: "Christmas means that, through Jesus, God shows unconditionally that he loves us. I pray that he gives you a very blessed Christmas." | He said: "Christmas means that, through Jesus, God shows unconditionally that he loves us. I pray that he gives you a very blessed Christmas." |
| Twitter campaign | Twitter campaign |
| Lambeth Palace said the video message was part of a Church of England campaign which aims to encourage congregations and clergy to let people know what they see as the "joy and meaning of Christmas". | Lambeth Palace said the video message was part of a Church of England campaign which aims to encourage congregations and clergy to let people know what they see as the "joy and meaning of Christmas". |
| It urges Anglicans across the world to complete the sentence: "Christmas means..." and send their message through Twitter. | It urges Anglicans across the world to complete the sentence: "Christmas means..." and send their message through Twitter. |
| During his speech, Archbishop Nichols cited similar concerns voiced by the Prince of Wales this month during a visit to the Coptic and Syrian Orthodox communities in Hertfordshire and London. | During his speech, Archbishop Nichols cited similar concerns voiced by the Prince of Wales this month during a visit to the Coptic and Syrian Orthodox communities in Hertfordshire and London. |
| "As Prince Charles said last week: 'Christianity was literally born in the Middle East and we must not forget our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters'," he said. | "As Prince Charles said last week: 'Christianity was literally born in the Middle East and we must not forget our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters'," he said. |
| "We come to this Cathedral this evening freely and relatively easily, ready to give a simple act of witness to our faith," he said. | "We come to this Cathedral this evening freely and relatively easily, ready to give a simple act of witness to our faith," he said. |
| "But for many, going to church is an act of life-risking bravery. We thank them and seek to be inspired by their courageous faith." | "But for many, going to church is an act of life-risking bravery. We thank them and seek to be inspired by their courageous faith." |