Pope John Paul II has made a fresh call for an end to the "senseless" conflict in the Middle East.
"Despite the serious and repeated attempts to destroy the serene and joint cohabitation of peoples, peace is possible and right," the Pope said during a New Year's Day Mass in the Vatican.
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"Indeed, peace is the most precious good to invoke from God and to build with every effort," he said.
"There must be cooperation of all who believe in God, knowing that authentic religiousness - far from placing individuals and peoples in conflict with one another - rather pushes them to together build a world of peace," he added.
He called for a peaceful end to the tensions "in harmony" with the principles of international law.
The 82-year-old Pontiff, looking tired but speaking in aclear voice, presided over the mass in St Peter's Basilica thisyear rather than celebrating it, which would have required hoursof standing and moving around.
The Pope made no specific reference to the situation in Iraqbut the Vatican has stressed that any attack against Iraq mustfirst have the approval of the United Nations.