The 79-year-old pontiff also called for a "democratic Lebanon" in his traditional Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, delivered from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica before thousands of pilgrims on an unseasonably warm, sunny day.

In a separate message issued by the Vatican, the pope said he hoped to visit the Holy Land and pray in Jerusalem.

"I very much hope that Providence will offer circumstances permitting a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (to) pray in Jerusalem, the emotional heartland of all the descendants of Abraham," Benedict said in a message addressed to Christians in the Middle East.

He called on them to renounce "hatred and vengeance" and to resist the temptation to move away from the region, lest holy Christian sites become deserted "archaeological zones."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated an invitation for the pontiff to visit Israel earlier this month, but the Vatican said such a trip would be possible only during conditions of peace or at least of a stable truce.

Inalienable rights

In his Urbi et Orbi message beamed to 102 television stations in 63 countries, the pope expressed his hope "that the way will be opened to a just and lasting peace, with respect for the inalienable rights of the peoples living (in the Middle East)."

"I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments," the pontiff added.

Hopes for new peace talks after years of violence and a diplomatic standstill were raised with a summit Saturday between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, during which Olmert promised "immediate and concrete steps" to ease the humanitarian conditions of Palestinians.

End to violence

The spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics made an equally strong appeal for "an end to the brutal violence" in Iraq in the Christmas message, his second since his election in April 2005.

"I appeal to all those who hold in their hands the fate of Iraq, that there will be an end to the brutal violence that has brought so much bloodshed to the country, and that every one of its inhabitants will be safe to lead a normal life," he said.

The pope also spoke of his hope that "a democratic Lebanon, open to others and in dialogue with different cultures and religions, will survive and progress."

He said he prayed for peace in Sri Lanka, and "that in (the western Sudanese region of) Darfur and throughout Africa there will be an end to fratricidal conflicts."

The pontiff mentioned those subjected to enslavement and exploitation, victims of racial and religious hatred or discrimination, terrorism and other violence "at a time when everyone invokes and acclaims progress, solidarity and peace for all."