Pope pleads for end to Israel's assault on Gaza

Pope Francis called for the end to the Gaza war and a lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East in his Christmas Day message on Monday, while also condemning abortion in strong terms. "I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims, and call for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by an opening to the provision of humanitarian aid," he told tens of thousands in St Peter's Square. "May there be an end to the fuelling of violence and hatred. And may the Palestinian question come to be resolved throughsincere and pe...