Video: Pope Benedict XVI delivers his 2012 Christmas message: 'May your hearts be filled with hope and joy' The Pope used his Christmas message to the world to say that people should never lose hope for peace, even in war-torn Syria and in Nigeria, where he spoke of "terrorism" against Christians. The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics said: "May peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims." The 85-year-old then read his Urbi et Orbi message to a crowd of tens of thousands of people in the Vatican and to millions of others watching around the world. As is traditional, he delivered Christmas greetings in 65 languages, including English: "May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where true happiness lies. May your hearts be filled with hope and joy, for the Saviour has been born for us.