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| Pope Francis urges aid access to Syria in Christmas speech | Pope Francis urges aid access to Syria in Christmas speech |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pope Francis has used his first Christmas Day address to urge access for humanitarian aid in Syria. | Pope Francis has used his first Christmas Day address to urge access for humanitarian aid in Syria. |
| He told thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square in the Vatican to pray for a peaceful end to violence in Syria and other conflict zones. | He told thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square in the Vatican to pray for a peaceful end to violence in Syria and other conflict zones. |
| The Argentine Pope also said tragic incidents involving migrants trying to reach Europe should not be repeated. | |
| Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. | Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. |
| It was the third successive year that the Syrian conflict had been a main focus of the Christmas speech, one of the addresses known as Urbi et Orbi. | It was the third successive year that the Syrian conflict had been a main focus of the Christmas speech, one of the addresses known as Urbi et Orbi. |
| 'Forgotten and overlooked' | |
| "Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fuelling hatred and vengeance," said the 77-year-old pontiff. | "Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fuelling hatred and vengeance," said the 77-year-old pontiff. |
| "Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering." | "Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering." |
| He also called for peace in Iraq and a successful outcome in talks between Israelis and Palestinians. | He also called for peace in Iraq and a successful outcome in talks between Israelis and Palestinians. |
| Expanding on his concept of peace, Francis said: "True peace is not a balancing of opposing forces. It's not a lovely facade which conceals conflicts and division. Peace calls for daily commitment." | |
| The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the Pope also reached out to "non-believers", calling on them to join with people of faith in the pursuit of peace and a better world. | |
| It was perhaps another small example of this new Pope's willingness to reach beyond the confines of Catholicism, our correspondent says. | |
| Conflicts in Africa were another focus of the Pope's address. | Conflicts in Africa were another focus of the Pope's address. |
| He called the violence in the Central African Republic "often forgotten and overlooked" in a country "torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty". | He called the violence in the Central African Republic "often forgotten and overlooked" in a country "torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty". |
| He also urged an end to fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and for "social harmony" in South Sudan. | |
| In the light of attacks on some Christian communities in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, Francis said: "Lord of life, protect all who are persecuted in your name." | |
| On Tuesday evening thousands gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square for Christmas Eve celebrations. | On Tuesday evening thousands gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square for Christmas Eve celebrations. |
| The nearby Church of the Nativity sits on the spot where Jesus is said to have been born. | The nearby Church of the Nativity sits on the spot where Jesus is said to have been born. |
| Correspondents said it was the biggest crowd to attend the event in years. | Correspondents said it was the biggest crowd to attend the event in years. |