Vatican City: Pope John Paul II used the traditional Christmas Eve midnight mass at the Vatican to reiterate a call for world peace, saying "too much blood" continued to be shed in conflicts around the globe.

"Too much blood is still being shed on the earth! Too much violence and too many conflicts trouble the peaceful coexistence of nations!" the Pope said in his homily during the ceremony, broadcast live to 48 countries yesterday (Dec 24, 2003).

John Paul II, who is 83 and weakened by Parkinson's disease, concelebrated the traditional Christmas mass with around 30 cardinals. About 10,000 pilgrims from around the world packed into the basilica for the annual Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus.

"May the radiance of your birth light up the night of the world," said the Pope, facing the figure of the baby Jesus in the crib in St Peter's Basilica.

"May the power of your message of love thwart the proud snares of the evil one. May the gift of your life make us understand ever more clearly the worth of the life of each human being," the Pope said.

In Bethlehem, meanwhile, Christians, Jews and Muslims were urged today to live together in harmony in the holy land.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabah, told some 3,000 worshippers gathered in the Saint Catherine basilica off Manger Square in the birthplace of Jesus Christ that political leaders needed to show greater courage and listen to the "voice of the oppressed" after another year of bloody conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.