The Pope, 87, who suffers from pain in his hip and knee, and at times seemed short of breath, delivered his Christmas message for the first time sitting down. He makes frequent use of a wheel-chair, walks with a stick and often delegates the leading role in religious ceremonies to colleagues.
Francis said he embraced the peoples of Israel and the Occupied Territories, and in particular the Christian community of Gaza, while members of the crowd waved around 20 Palestinian flags.
