He told thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square in the Vatican to pray for a peaceful end to violence in Syria and other conflict zones.

 

The Argentine Pope also said tragic² incidents involving migrants trying to reach Europe should not be repeated.

 

Christians³ around the world are celebrating Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

 

It was the third successive year that the Syrian conflict had been a main focus of the Christmas speech, one of the addresses known as Urbi et Orbi.

 

 

"Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fuelling hatred⁴ and vengeance（报复）," said the 77-year-old pontiff.

 

"Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering."

 

He also called for peace in Iraq and a successful outcome in talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

 

Expanding on his concept of peace, Francis said: "True peace is not a balancing of opposing forces. It's not a lovely facade⁵ which conceals⁶ conflicts and division. Peace calls for daily commitment."

 

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the Pope also reached out to "non-believers", calling on them to join with people of faith in the pursuit of peace and a better world.

 

It was perhaps another small example of this new Pope's willingness to reach beyond the confines of Catholicism, our correspondent says.

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