Pope Francis has called for peace in South Sudan and Syria in his first Christmas Day address.
In his first "Urbi et Orbi" message, he called for "social harmony" in South Sudan and dialogue to end the conflicts in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Syria. He said he also prayed for a favorable outcome to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
The pope said tragic incidents involving migrants trying to reach Europe should not be repeated.
The Argentine pontiff said too many lives had been lost in Syria, and urged all parties to bring an end to violence and allow humanitarian relief.
He also highlighted violence in Central African Republic, the BBC informs.
Pope Francis called it an "often forgotten and overlooked" conflict in a country "torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty".