Pope condemns Christmas attacks on churches

Pope Benedict condemned Christmas Day attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines as absurd violence before playing host to hundreds of Rome's poor for a meal inside the Vatican on Sunday.

The pope, speaking from his window to pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square, said he was saddened by the attacks in the two countries as well as by as a suicide attack in Pakistan.

"I want to express my heartfelt sorrow for the victims of these absurd acts of violence and once more repeat an appeal to abandon the path of hate and seek instead peaceful solutions to conflicts ..., " he said.

Six people died in attacks on two Christian churches in the northeast of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, and six people were injured by a bomb in a Roman Catholic Church on the island of Jolo in the Philippines.

Later on Sunday, in the atrium of the hall where he holds his general audience, he ate lunch with several hundred poor people, many from shelters run by the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Fresh clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims in the Nigerian city of Jos on Sunday. Buildings were set ablaze and people were seen running for cover as the police and military arrived on the scene in an effort to disperse crowds.

In a peace message issued on December 16, the pope said Christians were the most persecuted religious group in the world today and that it was unacceptable that in some places they had to risk their lives to practise their faith.

At least 40 people waiting to receive aid were killed by a suicide bomber in Peshawar, Pakistan, also on Christmas Day.