In his traditional Christmas day Urbi et Orbi message, the Pontiff prayed that Syrians might “find fraternity after long years of war” and that Yemen’s recent truce would bring relief to its people and children “exhausted by war and famine”.

“Today our witness to the distress of refugees should be a call to action.”

Bishops concerned that process of taking in refugees seems to have slipped onto the back-burner of Irish politics.

“The university is a message to those who want us thrown out of the circle of history. It means we are staying ...”

“I renew the hope that the international community not remain silent and inert in front of these intolerable crimes."