VATICAN CITY, Jan 10: Pope Benedict XVI on Monday called on Pakistan to scrap a law against blasphemy as part of a strongly-worded defence of Christians living in majority Muslim countries.

“I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law,” the leader of the world's one billion Catholics said in a traditional New Year's address to ambassadors to the Vatican.

“The tragic murder of the governor of Punjab shows the urgent need to make progress in this direction,” he said, adding that the law against blasphemy was an example of “norms prejudicing the right to religious freedom”.

In his address the pope also condemned anti-Christian attacks in Egypt and Iraq, saying they showed “the urgent need for governments of the region to adopt... effective measures for the protection of religious minorities”.

“Peace is built and preserved only when human beings can freely seek and serve God,” he said, adding that violation of religious freedoms around the world constituted a “grave attack on... dignity and freedom”.—AFP