Pope Laments “Grim Sound of Arms” in Lebanon, Iraq, Other Conflict Zones

Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday lamented the “grim sound of arms” in the world”s conflict zones, from Sudan to Sri Lanka and especially the volatile Middle East, in his Christmas message.

 

“On this day of peace, my thoughts turn especially to those places where the grim sound of arms continues to reverberate,” he said, emphasising “the whole of the Middle East — especially Iraq, Lebanon and the Holy

Land.”

 

The leader of the world”s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics spoke as two suicide bombings killed 29 people in Iraq on Tuesday, apparently targeting groups fighting al-Qaida militants.

 

Benedict also singled out Darfur, Somalia, the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Balkans and “many other crisis situations that unfortunately are frequently forgotten.”

 

Pilgrims filled a sun-drenched St Peter”s Square, shouting “viva!” and applauding as the German pope began delivering his traditional Christmas blessing, “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World).

 

The Vatican”s Swiss Guard corps in their colourful striped uniforms opened the ceremony with military precision, saluting the pope as he prepared to speak from the loggia of St Peter”s Basilica, draped with the papal coat of arms.

 

Also taking pride of place in the piazza, as the tens of thousands of pilgrims pressed against barriers for a better view, were units of the police and the armed forces and a military band.

 

The message was broadcast by nearly 100 television stations around the world, starting at noon (1100 GMT).

The 80-year-old pope, wearing a gold mitre and a gold and white embroidered cape, was delivering the blessing, his voice cracking intermittently, after celebrating midnight mass in the massive basilica early Tuesday.

 

The Urbi et Orbi message, also offered at Easter, brings with it a plenary indulgence, the remission of all temporal punishment due to sin, granted not only to those in St Peter”s Square but also to Catholics watching the ceremony on television and listening on radio.

 

The pope followed the blessing with greetings in 63 languages including Latin and Esperanto.

 

The pontiff prayed that political leaders would find “the wisdom and courage to seek and find humane, just and lasting solutions.”

 

The pope spoke of “those who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war … those who are still denied their legitimate aspirations for a more secure existence, for health, education, stable employment.”

 

Benedict said: “It is the most vulnerable members of society — women, children, the elderly — who are so often the victims of brutal armed conflicts, terrorism and violence of every kind, which inflict such terrible sufferings on entire populations.”

 

The pope, who has spoken out with increasing frequency on environmental issues, said on Tuesday: “Throughout the world the number of migrants, refugees and evacuees is also increasing because of frequent natural disasters, often caused by alarming environmental upheavals.”

 

St Peter”s Square was dominated by an unusual Nativity scene that was unveiled Monday night next to an immense Christmas tree in the famous piazza.

 

Instead of the usual manger scene, this year”s creche is set in the carpentry workshop of Joseph, the husband of Mary, with hovering angels created by Mexican artist Agustin Parra and 10 figures from northeast Italy”s Trentino region.

 

Picture: Pope Benedict XVI blesses pilgrim gathered in St Peter”s Square during his traditional Christmas blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World). Pope Benedict XVI lamented the “grim sound of arms” in the world”s conflict zones in a message of peace echoed by other Christian leaders as they celebrated Christmas.
(AFP/Osservatore Romano)