Benedict delivered his "Urbi et Orbi" speech ("goodwill to all") from the central loggia of St Peter's Basilica overlooking a sun-drenched piazza below, before thousands of jubilant tourists and pilgrims, hundreds of colourful Swiss Guards, and Italian military bands.
The 84-year-old Pontiff said he prayed that the birthday of Jesus would send a message to all who need to be saved from hardships.
He cited refugees from the Horn of Africa and flood victims in Thailand, among others, and called for greater political dialogue in Burma, and stability in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa's Great Lakes region.
He said he prayed that God would help the Israelis and the Palestinians resume talks. His wish came just hours after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told Christian leaders at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity about his desire for peace.
"May he bring an end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed," he said.
The Pope didn't mention the Christmas Day attacks on churches in Nigeria - as his speech was prepared in advance.
Benedict then delivered Christmas greetings in 65 different languages, from Mongolian to Maori, Aramaic to Albanian, Tamil to Thai. He finished the list with Guarani and Latin, as the bells tolled from St Peter's towers.
At the Christmas Eve mass, the Pope attacked the increasing commercialisation of Christmas urging the faithful to look beyond the holiday's "superficial glitter" to discover its true meaning.
Modern celebrations obscure the simplicity of the message of Christ's birth, he said.
"Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light," he added.
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