War and economic hardship loomed over Christmas celebrations across the world on Thursday, with Pope Benedict XVI pleading for an end to “hatred and violence” in the Middle East. “May the divine light of Bethlehem radiate throughout the Holy Land, (bringing) forth rich fruit from the efforts of all those who (shun) the twisted logic of conflict and violence,” Pope Benedict XVI said in his traditional address in St. Peter's Square. “This light ... is besought by the people of Zimbabwe, in Africa, trapped for all too long in a political and social crisis which, sadly, keeps worsening,” the pope said, watched by thousands in the huge square. About peace in the Mideast region, he calls for efforts to ending the sufferings of millions of children throughout the world due to poverty and exploitation, the SPA news agency said. He emphasized the importance of considering the situation of the street children who are recruited for armed conflicts and for turning them into violence machinery, SPA said. Benedict, whose message was also broadcast to millions worldwide, added that “interminable sufferings are the tragic consequence of the lack of stability and peace” in Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia. In the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ's traditional birthplace, thousands of Christians turned out in the largest numbers since the 2000 start of the Palestinian uprising, braving the cold to bring festive cheer to the troubled region. Many prayed in the Church of the Nativity while others gathered outside in Manger Square, where boy scout marching bands played hymns on bagpipes and drums. Despite the messages of peace there were constant reminders of war and conflict in many parts of the world. Some 150 Palestinian pilgrims waiting to leave Gaza to cross Israel to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank had a close call when a mortar bomb fell on the border terminal, the Israeli army said. The missile fired by Palestinian militants inside Gaza fell on the Erez border but failed to explode, it said. In Afghanistan a British marine was shot dead in the southern province of Helmand on Christmas Eve, and a US trooper was killed in an attack in the east of the country on the same day, military authorities said. In Baghdad, nervous Iraqi Christians packed the little Church of the Virgin Mary of the Holy Heart in the heart of the capital to celebrate Christmas mass amid ongoing security concerns for the embattled minority community. Other world leaders reflected on the economic hardship brought on by the worldwide credit crunch which has sparked recession and job losses.
