Pontiff Urges End to Death Penalty

In his Christmas message to the world, a weary-looking Pope John Paul II on Friday warned against indifference toward hate and violence and issued an urgent call to end state-sponsored executions.

As church bells echoed around the world, the 78-year-old pontiff--hunched over and slowed by age and illness--gingerly stepped onto the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) message.

Before a crowd of 40,000 who stood in the chilly, winter sunshine in Vatican City to listen and millions who watched on television in dozens of countries, the pope pleaded for an end to war, genocide, the death penalty, the exploitation of children and the production and sale of weapons.

“How can we fail to notice the strident contrast between the serenity of the Christmas carols and the many problems of the present hour?” the pope asked.

The pontiff noted that much of the world is steeped in “tragic situations, which often involve human guilt and even malice, soaked in fratricidal hate and senseless violence.”

“May the light coming from Bethlehem save us from the danger of becoming resigned to so tormented and distressing a scenario,” the pope said.

And he prayed for the world to find a way to “defend human life”--the way the Vatican usually refers to the church’s opposition to abortion and euthanasia--and to “restrain the bloodied hand of those responsible for genocide and crimes of war.”

After reading his message, he made an unscripted call to abolish the death penalty.

The stooped figure of John Paul--who contracted the flu and a fever last week--seemed almost lost on the balcony. He read out holiday greetings in 58 languages, gliding over the musical tones of Maori and offering the longer versions in Italian and in his native Polish.

During midnight Mass, John Paul mentioned the approaching Jubilee year in 2000. In his prepared text, the pope said he himself would inaugurate the Holy Year. Yet in his speech, the pope said the Roman Catholic Church would do so.

In a reference to shaky peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians, John Paul prayed for encouragement for those trying to help “the tormented situation in the Middle East by respecting international commitments.”

Meanwhile, in dozens of Christian churches scattered throughout Jerusalem, the day began with joyful Christmas services. The pealing of church bells and the ethereal sound of chants and carols echoed through the Old City’s stone streets.

“It’s so special to be here at this time of year--to see this place now, on Christmas Day,” said Ronald Genasci, 62, who had come from Arlington, Texas, to visit Israel.