Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his hope for an end to conflicts around the world in his traditional Christmas message from the Vatican.
Addressing a large crowd from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, he called for peaceful co-existence in the Middle East.
Earlier, the Pope prayed for peace as he delivered his traditional Christmas Eve homily.
At a Mass at St Peter's, he prayed for God to "implant peace in our hearts".
Security was tight. Last year at the same Mass a woman jumped the barriers and lunged at the Pope, causing him to stumble. BBC News
