Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Midnight Mass on Christmas day in St. Peter’s Basilica. He delivered an appeal for abused children around the world, referring specifically to the escalation of war in the Middle East. He directed prayers towards children forced to fight “as soldiers in a violent world, toward children who have to beg, toward children who suffer deprivation and hunger, toward children who are unloved.” He continued, “Let us pray this night that the brightness of God’s love may enfold all these children. Let us ask God to help us do our part so that the dignity of children may be respected.”

Referring to abortion, Benedict said, “The child of Bethlehem directs our gaze toward all children who suffer and are abused in the world, the born and the unborn.” The pope also made a plea for the overcoming of prejudice as the world faces ever-growing concern over jihadist attacks. Police stood guard at churches in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Palestine this Christmas.

The pope began the Midnight Mass, broadcast to 44 nations, with a call for peace in Latin: “Pax vobis” (”Peace be with you”). The faithful responded: “Et cum spiritu tuo.” (”And also with you.”)To symbolize the worldwide reach of the Roman Catholic Church, children in native costumes from around the world — including Korea, Poland and Burkina Faso — brought flowers to a figure of the Baby Jesus near the altar.

Benedict told worshippers to “not forget the true gift: to give each others something of ourselves, to give each other something of our time, to open our time to God.”

Christmas gift-giving also means giving to those who cannot give anything back, he said.

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