Pope Francis calls for an end to Syrian war

 

  Pope Francis has called for an end to the fighting in Syria in his Christmas address at the Vatican yesterday, saying "far too much blood has been spilled" in the conflict.

   He spoke in front of tens of thousands of Catholic pilgrims in St Peter's Square, urging Palestinians and Israelis to abandon hate and revenge.
  Heavy security was in place following last week's lorry attack in Berlin. The Pope also paid tribute to its victims.
On Syria, the pontiff said the international community must "actively seek a negotiated solution" to the five-year war.
  He said Israelis and Palestinians must come together to "write a new page of history" amid heightened tension after Friday's UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements on occupied land.
He also denounced global terrorism, which he said "had sown fear and death into the hearts of so many countries and cities".