video transcript

Under clear blue skies and sunshine Pope Benedict welcomes the faithful to St. Peters Square. In his New years message he said he hoped 2013 would be a year of peace. He called on people to accept the love of Jesus Christ. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE BENEDICT SAYING: "I send to all the most cordial good wishes for the New Year: that it can be a really good year, and it will be if we accept in us and among us, the love that Christ has given us." The 85-year-old Pope, is marking his eighth New Years as the head of the Catholic Church.