Pope prays for peace in Christmas message

A frail but determined Pope John Paul II celebrated Christmas today by asking Christ to save the world from war, terrorism and discouragement in finding peace - particularly between Israel and the Palestinians.

John Paul delivered his traditional Christmas Day blessing, known as his “Urbi et Orbi” message (Latin for ”to the city and to the world”), just hours after celebrating a lengthy Midnight Mass inside the poinsettia-decked St Peter’s Basilica.