VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI urged Christians to remain strong in the face of intolerance and violence in a New Year’s appeal Saturday that came hours after a bomb blast outside an Egyptian church killed 21 people.
The pope condemned a widening campaign against Christians in the Middle East in his homily at St. Peter’s Basilica, echoing comments last month in which he called a lack of religious freedom a threat to world security. “In the face of the threatening tensions of the moment, especially in the face of discrimination, of abuse of power and religious intolerance that today particularly strikes Christians, I again direct a pressing invitation not to yield to discouragement and resignation,” he said.
The Vatican celebrates New Year’s as World Peace Day, and Benedict urged world leaders to make a “concrete and constant commitment” to help bring peace. The Associated Press
