Pope calls for end to bloodshed in Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Pope Benedict XVI has used his traditional Christmas Day message to pray for an end to the bloodshed in Syria.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church said: "May the Lord bring an end to the violence in Syria, where much blood has already been shed."

He also urged the world to help famine victims in the Horn of Africa.

The "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the city and the world") message was broadcast around the world in 65 languages.

At Christmas Mass on Saturday, the pontiff attacked the commercialization of the Christian festival.

He urged worshippers to "see through the superficial glitter".

Speaking in Italian from a balcony above St Peter's Square, the pontiff spoke out against wars in general.

"May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so many conflicts which even today stain the Earth with blood," he said.

His remarks on Syria come after a year which has seen more than 5,000 civilians killed as the government seeks to suppress dissent.

Officials said last week that two suicide car bombings in Damascus had killed 44 people and left more than 150 injured. The government blamed al-Qaeda, but its opponents suggested security forces were behind the blasts.

On Sunday, human rights and opposition activists said troops had killed at least 10 people, including five in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.

Addressing the "Arab Spring" as a whole, Pope Benedict prayed for "renewed vigour for all elements of society in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East as they strive to advance the common good", BBC reported.