Pope calls for peace in Syria in Christmas Message

Pope Francis used his Christmas message on December 25 to urge the world to put aside "partisan interests" to find a political solution to conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and other flash points.

Francis delivered the traditional papal "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

"My wish for a happy Christmas is a wish for fraternity. Fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture. Fraternity among people with different ideas... Fraternity among persons of different religions," he said.

Francis went on to call for peace in Syria, Yemen, Africa, the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He also hoped for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

He also called for a peaceful solution to the Assad war in Syria that has killed some 1000000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011.

"May the international community work decisively for a political solution... so that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country," the pontiff said.