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Pope Francis has denounced the �brutal persecution� of religious and ethnic minorities, in his traditional Christmas Day address. In his second �Urbi et Orbi� � to the city and the world � Christmas message, the pontiff highlighted the plight of victims of conflict in Syria and Iraq. �Too many people are being held hostage or massacred� in Nigeria, he added. Pope Francis also urged dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians and condemned Taliban attacks in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people turned out on St Peter�s Square to hear the Argentine Pope deliver his annual message. He said Christians in Iraq and Syria had endured conflict for too long, and �together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution�. �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,� the Pope said.