Pope Benedict XVI urged people worldwide to abandon violence and coexist peacefully in his Christmas address on Friday, RIA Novosti reports.
In his Urbi et Orbi ("to the city of Rome and to the world") address, the Pope invited people around the globe "to abandon every logic of violence and vengeance." He focused on the situation in the Middle East, Iraq, Sri Lanka, the Korean Peninsula and other hot spots. The Pope urged Catholics in Europe and North America "to leave behind their selfish and technicist mentality."
He also conveyed the Catholic Church's solidarity with the victims of natural disasters and poverty. Summing up his speech, he said "the Church everywhere proclaims the Gospel of Christ, despite persecutions, discriminations, attacks and at times hostile indifference."
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the heads of Christian churches on Christmas, the official website of the Moscow patriarchate said on Saturday.
"In these holy days our hearts become full of joy because the Incarnation of the Son of God gave us kindness and humanity of God, our Savior," the patriarch said in a greeting.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church wished Christians who celebrate the Nativity on Saturday "peace, joy, wellbeing and God's grace."
Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and some Orthodox churches mark Christmas on December 25 in line with the Gregorian calendar.The Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox churches, Athos monasteries, some Catholics and some Protestants celebrate the feast on January 7 in line with the Julian calendar.
