Pope Benedict XVI, in his annual Christmas message to the faithful, prayed for peace in Syria and other places where armed conflict is killing thousands of civilians. CNN: On Christmas, Pope Benedict XVI spread a hopeful message to his followers, calling for peace in many of the world's hot spots. From Syria to northern Nigeria, the leader of the Catholic Church urged dialogue and the protection of civilians. "In this world, there is a good soil God has prepared," the pope said. "Consequently, there is hope in the world; a hope in which we can trust, even at the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations." Benedict spoke to a crowd of about 50,000 gathered at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. He called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria, where a civil war has claimed more than 40,000 lives. "May peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims," Benedict ...(Read Full Post)