Urbi et Orbi: Weapons should be turned into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love

Pope Francis in his Christmas message "Urbi et Orbi" called for an end to "brutal persecution" of religious minorities and violence against children, reports the Patria News Agency.

"I implore the Savior to look at our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who have been suffering for too long because of conflict and who, along with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering from brutal persecution" - Pope Francis said in his message "To the City and to the World", from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, before tens of thousands of people.

He was referring to the jihadists of the Islamic State, whose violence forced Shiite Muslims, Christians, and other faiths in Syria and Iraq who do not share their ideology to be displaced.

- May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into acceptance, so that all those who are tested may receive humanitarian aid to survive the harsh winter, return to their homes, and live with dignity - Pope Francis urged.

The Pope also spoke about numerous children who are "victims of violence, subjects of illicit trafficking and smuggling", as well as those who are forced to become soldiers or are brutally massacred.

The Pope also advocated for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and thanked those who "bravely help the sick and their families" in the case of Ebola. He also called for the necessary care and medicines to be provided for these patients.

He also called for "tensions to be overcome, hatred and violence to be defeated, and a new path of fraternity and reconciliation to begin" in Ukraine.

- I implore peace for other parts of the African continent, Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and various regions of the DR Congo," he said, adding that he asks all those who "have political responsibility to work through dialogue to overcome contradictions and build fraternal coexistence. Weapons should be turned into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love and tenderness" - said the Pope, congratulating everyone on Christmas at the end.