Spiritual leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics Pope Benedict has delivered his traditional Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” blessing in Rome. He said he hoped the celebration of Jesus’s birth would bring consolation to those living in poverty, injustice and war.

He appealed for just solutions to crises all over the world, saying he was close to society’s most vulnerable members — women, children, the elderly, forced migrants and refugees.

The Pope made another appeal for environmental protection, saying natural disasters were often caused by environmental upheaval.

He spoke in 63 languages, including for the first time Guarani, used by indigenous peoples of South America.

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