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Pope Francis I on Monday, 25 December, called on Christians to pray for all the children living in places ravaged by war and conflict in his traditional Christmas Day message.
In his annual Urbi et Orbi ("to the City and the World") nativity address, which he delivered from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, the pontiff stressed the importance of recognising Jesus Christ in the children suffering in various ways around the world, Efe reported.
The pope also urged his flock to commit to "making our world more human and more worthy for the children of today and of the future."
He said that Jesus could be seen in the faces of children affected by conflicts such as the wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen; by the growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, and by the bloodshed in African countries such as South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Nigeria.
In addition, Francis called for a deescalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, in Venezuela and in Ukraine.
Furthermore, he expressed his hope that the international community would work to ensure that the dignity of persecuted minority groups in Myanmar and Bangladesh is adequately protected.
The pope ended his message by offering a "warm greeting" to people from throughout the world.
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