Pope pushes for UN peace deal in Syria

Pope Francis said on Friday during his annual Christmas address that he supported UN efforts to end the wars in Syria and Libya.

Speaking at the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Francis decried "brutal acts of terrorism" around the globe and said he was praying for an end to the various conflicts being waged in the Middle East.

"We pray ... that the agreement reached in the United Nations may succeed in halting as quickly as possible the clash of arms in Syria and in remedying the extremely grave humanitarian situation of its suffering people," he said, referring to a draft resolution agreed upon last week by the UN Security Council. He also called on a peace agreement in Libya to be followed through.

Comfort for refugees

Francis also took the time to draw attention to the plight of refugees, many of them directly impacted by the wars in Syria and Libya. He also had high praise for those who've acted to help them.

"May God repay all those, both individuals and states, who generously work to provide assistance and welcome to the numerous migrants and refugees," he said.

The pope's Christmas speech followed an address delivered last night in which he criticized "a society so often intoxicated by consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and narcissism."

blc/jil (AFP, AP, dpa)