Pope Christmas message

Pope Benedict the 16th has called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and urged China's new leadership to respect religious freedoms.The Pope read out his annual Christmas message on Tuesday to Roman Catholics gathered in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican. The pontiff said the conflict in Syria is costing innocent lives and appealed for dialogue between President Bashar al-Assad's government and anti-government groups to seek a political solution. He urged China's new leader Xi Jinping and his government to value the contribution of religion in a way that can help build a fraternal society. The Holy See has been expressing concern over China's suppression of religious freedom for Catholics and does not have diplomatic relations with the country.Media agencies