Religion

Pope calls for peace in holiday message

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II ushered in the Christmas holiday early today in a midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, saying that "too much blood is still being shed" in conflicts around the world.

The pope, 83, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, cut back his holiday activities only slightly, insisting on celebrating the Mass in the packed basilica decorated with red poinsettias.

After lighting a candle for peace, the pontiff delivered his entire homily, speaking slowly but in a clear voice.

"The pope suffers physically, as you can see, but at the same time he is very strong spiritually," Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of John Paul's closest advisers, told Vatican Radio this week.

Hours before the Mass, the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, headlined its holiday edition: "Christmas 2003, a cry for peace."

The pope was a staunch opponent of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and criticized the decision to go ahead without U.N. authorization. In a recent message, he called for a renewed respect for international law and addressed the dangers of terrorism and the need for reform of international law to combat it.

In recent weeks, amid reports that churches could become terrorist targets, security has been tightened around the Vatican. Italian police guarded the perimeter of the vast St. Peter's Square and pilgrims entering the basilica passed through metal detectors.

In the late afternoon, the Vatican unveiled a life-sized Nativity scene next to a 100-foot Christmas tree in the center of the square, depicting the birth of Christ in a Bethlehem manger. American Cardinal Edmund Szoka, governor of Vatican City, joined in the singing of White Christmas.

Shortly after, John Paul came to his apartment window above the square, blessed the crowd and lit a candle in a vigil for peace.

In his homily, the pope said: "Too much blood is still being shed on earth! Too much violence and too many conflicts trouble the peaceful coexistence of nations!"

"You come to bring us peace," John Paul said of the baby Jesus. "You are our peace!"

"O holy night, so long awaited, which has united God and man for ever!" John Paul said. "You rekindle our hope. You fill us with ecstatic wonder. You assure us of the triumph of love over hatred, of life over death."

Pilgrims from many countries attended the Mass, with the Church's diversity underlined by the selection of children who presented the pope with flowers: 12 youngsters from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, including two from John Paul's native Poland.

At noontime today, John Paul will deliver his usual holiday Urbi et Orbi message - Latin for "To the city and the world" - and Christmas greetings. He is also scheduled to lead New Year's Eve prayers Wednesday in St. Peter's and preside at Mass on New Year's Day.

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