The President of the Lutheran World Federation, Bishop Mark S. Hanson, has issued his Christmas message for 2006 in which he reminds believers of God's desire for peace on earth as revealed through the birth of Christ.

"We live in a visited world. On that holy night twenty centuries ago, God visited the world in the miracle of Bethlehem. Held in Mary's arms that night was the revelation of steadfast, unbounded love for all humanity. The birth of Jesus disclosed God's saving will and eternal desire for reconciliation and peace," said Bishop Hanson.

He added, however, that in the gathering of the Church to celebrate the Lord's Nativity, "we hear sounds of discord throughout the world".

"From divisions caused by walls of separation, from the struggles of many for survival from disasters, devastation, hunger, and poverty, from the dread of rampant disease and the spread of HIV and AIDS, from war and the threat of war, even with nuclear weapons, from broken relationships in homes and hostilities within communities and countries, we seek rescue," he said.

"We yearn for the gracious, healing, and reconciling Word of the Prince of Peace."