Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to consider children who are abused, hungry, forced to beg and unloved as he presided over Christmas midnight mass at St. Peter's Basilica early Monday at the Vatican.

"The child of Bethlehem directs our gaze toward all children who suffer and are abused in the world, the born and the unborn," Pope Benedict said in his homily.

He began the Midnight Mass, broadcast to 44 nations, with a wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with you").

The Pope said that by celebrating the birth of Jesus, people should also think about children serving "as soldiers in a violent world, toward children who have to beg, toward children who suffer deprivation and hunger, toward children who are unloved."

"Let us pray this night that the brightness of God's love may enfold all these children," he said. "Let us ask God to help us do our part so that the dignity of children may be respected."

Pope Benedict told worshippers to "not forget the true gift: to give each other something of ourselves, to give each other something of our time, to open our time to God."

He said people should not just give Christmas gifts to those who will give back.

"Give to those who receive from no one and who cannot give you anything back."

Earlier, the Pope delivered his weekly Sunday blessing to a crowd of pilgrims and tourists gathering in St. Peter's Square, waiting for the midnight Mass.

He said people should strive to "overcome preconceived ideas and prejudices, tear down barriers and eliminate contrasts that divide — or worse — set individuals and peoples against each other, so as to build together a world of justice and peace."

With files from the Associated Press