AP - Pope Benedict XVI urged loyal Catholics in China to have courage in the face of communist limits on religious freedom and conscience, a Christmas Day message highlighting the tensions between Beijing and the Vatican.
In Bethlehem, the largest number of pilgrims in a decade gathered to celebrate Christmas, with tens of thousands flocking to the Church of the Nativity for prayers.
(Pope) Benedict used his traditional holiday speech, delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to tourists and pilgrims "May the birth of the savior strengthen the spirit of faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the church in mainland China, that they may not lose heart through the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion and conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his church, may keep alive the flame of hope," Benedict prayed aloud.
The Pope also expressed hope that Christmas might inspire respect for human rights in Afghanistan and Pakistan and "advance reconciliation on the Korean peninsula." He also prayed that people in Haiti still struggling with the aftermath of January's devastating earthquake and, more recently, cholera, would draw hope for their future.
For Africa, (Pope) Benedict spoke hopefully that "horizons of lasting peace and authentic progress" would open up for the peoples in Somalia and Darfur as well as those in the Ivory Coast, where Laurent Gbagbo has been resisting warnings from West African leaders to step down peacefully or risk being removed by force after a presidential election the international community insists he lost.
He repeatedly spoke out about the plight of Christians in Iraq, many of whom have fled their country to escape persecution and violence, including after an attack on a Baghdad basilica. He prayed that Christmas would "ease the pain and bring consolation amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and in the Middle East."
"May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence," Benedict said in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" address (Latin for 'to the city and to the world').
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Saturday, December 25th 2010 at 11:58AM
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