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Christmas message one of peace and hope, says Pope

VATICAN CITY, Wednesday (Reuters) Pope John Paul, leading the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas, urged humanity yesterday to remember that Jesus's message remained one of hope in times of war, suffering and oppression.

The Pope, resplendent in gold and white vestments, looked tired and his voice seemed a bit hoarse during the midnight mass ceremony attended by more than 10,000 people in St Peter's Basilica.

During the mass, the faithful also heard a prayer for peace in the Middle East, a topic expected to be a main part of the pope's message later on Christmas Day. "Jesus is born for a humanity searching for freedom and peace," the Pope said during the homily of the evening mass, which was broadcast live to tens of millions of viewers in 47 countries.

"He is born for everyone burdened by sin, in need of salvation, and yearning for hope," the pope said, celebrating the 25th Christmas season of his reign as head of the world's one billion Catholics. Standing at a flower-bedecked altar, the 82-year-old Polish pope said Christmas night, celebrating the birth of Jesus, was a night of faith, love and hope.

Children from Africa, India, Italy, South Korea, Ecuador, Canada, Poland and China offered symbolic gifts to the Pope as the Sistine Chapel choir sang in Latin and Italian.

"The child is laid in a lowly manger: this is God's sign. The centuries and the millennia pass, but the sign remains, and it remains valid for us too - the men and women of the third millennium," the pope said in his homily.

"It is a sign of hope for the whole human family; a sign of peace for those suffering from conflicts of every kind; a sign of freedom for the poor and oppressed; a sign of mercy for those caught up in the vicious circle of sin; a sign of love and consolation for those who feel lonely and abandoned.

"A small and fragile sign, a humble and quiet sign, but one filled with the power of God who out of love became man."

Most of the pope's homily during the solemn ceremony was dedicated to a recounting of the Christmas story.

"On this holy night the ancient promise is fulfilled: the time of waiting has ended and the Virgin gives birth to the Messiah," he said.

"On this night God answers the ceaseless cry of the peoples: 'Come, Lord, save us'. His eternal word of love has taken on our mortal flesh." One of the prayers of the faithful during the mass was read by a member of the congregation in Arabic. It called on leaders of governments and international organisations to work for peace and justice.

"May they spare no effort to work for peace in the context of reciprocal respect and freedom, above all in the tormented land of the Middle East," the prayer said.

At noon on Christmas Day, the Pope delivered his twice yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World) blessing and message to crowds in Rome's St Peter's Square.

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