Roman Catholic head, Pope Benedict XVI has called on the world not to shut Christ out of Christmas, during his Sunday blessing, 24 December 2006.

|PIC1|The Pope spoke out against the extensive commercialism of Christmas, which has seen Jesus sidelined despite being the origin of the holiday. The Pope also spoke out as he asked people to banish prejudices which were hindering peace throughout the world.

At St Peter's Square on Christmas Eve he said: "May his birth not find us busy celebrating Christmas forgetting that he (Jesus) is the very person at the centre of the feast."

Urging listeners to think about those who would greet Christmas in "solitude, in sickness and in suffering", he told that the true spirit of Christmas was a commitment to "overcome prejudices, break down barriers and eliminate situations that pit individuals and people against each other in order to build a world of justice and peace together".

Over December, Pope Benedict has been highly critical of the decision by some state schools in Italy not to set up traditional nativity scenes due to fears that they would offend non-Christians amongst the population.

On Sunday, the Pope lit a candle from his window symbolising a desire for peace throughout the world.

The Pope also held midnight mass in St Peter's Basilica with thousands of people. Large television screens were put up in the square for those who were unable to enter.

On Monday he will deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message and blessing to crowds in St Peter's Square.