VATICAN CITY, Dec 25: Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday lamented the “grim sound of arms” in the world’s conflict zones, from Sudan to Sri Lanka and especially the volatile Middle East, in his Christmas message.

“On this day of peace, my thoughts turn especially to those places where the grim sound of arms continues to reverberate,” he said, emphasising “the whole of the Middle East”.

The leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics spoke as two suicide bombings killed 29 people in Iraq on Tuesday.

Benedict mentioned in particular those living in the “tortured regions” of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, the Holy Land and “many other crisis situations that unfortunately are frequently forgotten”.

Pilgrims filled a sun-drenched St Peter’s Square, shouting “viva!” and applauding as the German pope began delivering his traditional Christmas blessing, “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World). The pope followed the blessing with greetings in 63 languages.—AFP