VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis condemned the brutal persecution of minorities by Islamic State insurgents in his Christmas message on Thursday and urged people not to be indifferent to the suffering of so many around the world.

Tens of thousands of people flocked to St. Peter’s Square to hear the Argentine pope deliver his message, marking the second Christmas since his election last year.

Pope Francis also appealed for an end to conflicts in African countries, urged dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, condemned the attack by Taleban militants that killed more than 130 students in Pakistan last week, and thanked those helping the victims of the Ebola epidemic.

But he reserved his toughest words to defend the victims of Islamic State fighters who have killed or displaced Shiite Muslims, Christians and others in Syria and Iraq who do not share the group’s ideologies. “May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world,” he said. “May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigors of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity,” he said, speaking in Italian.

On Christmas eve, Francis made a surprise telephone call to comfort Christian refugees in a camp in Ankawa, Iraq. The pope has a busy year ahead of him, with trips planned to Asia, Africa, Latin American and the United States.