Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI was to deliver his traditional Christmas Day greeting and Urbi et Orbi message "to the city and to the world" from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica later Thursday.

Since his 2005 election as pontiff, Benedict has used the message to highlight pressing concerns.

In 2007, Benedict appealed for peace in Sudan's Darfur region and other parts of Africa as well as the Middle East and the Balkans.

On Thursday, the spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics was expected to deliver greetings in 64 languages.

More than 90 television networks in some 60 countries were scheduled to broadcast the event, the Vatican said.

On Wednesday, Benedict ushered in the Vatican's Christmas celebrations by leading the traditional midnight Christmas Mass in St Peter's Basilica.

In his homily, the 81-year-old pontiff recalled Jesus' humble birth in Bethlehem and drew attention to the plight of the poor and to that of children suffering neglect and abuse.

Christmas represents God "stooping down," becoming, in a lowly stable, a newborn child, which is a "state of complete dependence," Benedict said.

The German-born pontiff also prayed for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Holy Land.

Benedict is is likely to visit Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan in May 2009, according to recent remarks by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal. (dpa)