Pope appeals for 'just, lasting ME peace'

Christians gather for a "Peace in Palestine" concert outside the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the Biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem on Sunday night. PHOTO: AFP

"With deep apprehension I think, on this festive day, of the Middle East, marked by so many grave crises and conflicts, and I express my hope that the way will be opened to a just and lasting peace, with respect for the inalienable rights of the peoples living there," he said from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica.

"I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments," the 79-year-old pontiff added.

Hopes for new peace talks after years of violence and a diplomatic standstill were raised with a summit Saturday between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, during which Olmert promised "immediate and concrete steps" to ease the humanitarian conditions of Palestinians.

Benedict made an equally strong appeal for "an end to the brutal violence" in Iraq.

"I appeal to all those who hold in their hands the fate of Iraq, that there will be an end to the brutal violence that has brought so much bloodshed to the country, and that every one of its inhabitants will be safe to lead a normal life," he said. The pope also spoke of his hope that "a democratic Lebanon, open to others and in dialogue with different cultures and religions, will survive and progress."

He said he prayed for peace in Sri Lanka, and "that in (the western Sudanese region of) Darfur and throughout Africa there will be an end to fratricidal conflicts."