Pope Francis Implores God: 'Look Upon People Suffering From Brutal Persecution In Iraq, Syria'

In his Christmas Day message on Thursday, Pope Francis directly called on God to ease the suffering of Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria who are suffering from a "brutal persecution" by Islamic State insurgents.

"I ask him, the Savior of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution," the Pope said in his heartfelt "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing and message.

"May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world," he said as he marked his second Christmas since his election to the papacy last year.

Tens of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square as the 78-year-old Pope from Argentina issued a stinging condemnation of the action being taken by ISIS militants even as he urged people around the world to pay attention to the cries and suffering of many of their fellowmen in the Middle East and elsewhere.

In his address, Pope Francis also appealed for an end to conflicts in African countries, urged dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, condemned the attack by Taliban militants that killed more than 130 students in Pakistan last week, and thanked those helping the victims of the Ebola epidemic.

"May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigors of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity," he said.

Earlier on Christmas Eve, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics conducted the annual Christmas Eve late-night Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where he disclosed in his homily that he had telephoned Iraqi refugees in the Kurdish city of Erbil and told them they were "like Jesus."

"You are like Jesus on Christmas night. There was no room for him either, and he had to flee to Egypt later to save himself," Pope Francis told them in the call arranged by the Italian Catholic television station Sat2000.

Jesus was born in a barn manger as his parents were not able to find room for them at an inn in Bethlehem and were later forced to flee.

The majority of refugees living in Erbil in northern Iraq are Christians forced to flee ISIS militants who have been brutally undertaking a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Iraqi areas they have seized. The Pope said the attacks by the Islamic militants are victimizing minorities including "innocent children, children who have died, exploited children."

During the Christmas Eve Mass, the Pope also declared that what the world badly needs now is tenderness.

Pope Francis urged people to have greater empathy towards family and friends with problems. "Do we have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to us? Or do we prefer impersonal solutions, perhaps effective but devoid of the warmth of the Gospel? How much the world needs tenderness today!" the Pope said.

The Pope also called on "the arrogant, the proud ... and those closed off to others" to meet life "with goodness, with meekness."

"The presence of the Lord in the midst of his people cancels the sorrow of defeat and the misery of slavery and ushers in joy and happiness," he said.

The mass was broadcast live in 3D for the first time, with images of the crowds of faithful massing in and around the tiny city state captured by drones.

Wednesday's Mass came just days after the Pope denounced members of the Vatican bureaucracy for their sins, including lusting for power and suffering from "spiritual Alzheimer's."

Many of the same cardinals, bishops and priests whom he publicly scolded attended the Mass. Following the Pope's outbursts, some of them reacted, saying the Holy Father was merely asking them to reexamine their consciences, as any Jesuit spiritual director would do.

Pope Francis has a busy year ahead of him, with visits to Sri Lanka and the Philippines set early next month. He is also due to visit Africa, the United States and Latin America.

Also in January, the Pope is due to announce the names of a new batch of cardinals who would be eligible to enter a secret conclave to elect a new pope after his death or resignation.

Another major project outlined for 2015 is the reform of the Curia, the Vatican's central administration.