Christians across the world are celebrating Christmas today with Carol singing and special services. The focus of the celebration is Bethlehem, where Christ was born over 2000 years ago. Churches across India have been tastefully decorated on the occasion.Pope Benedict has prayed for peace as he delivered his traditional Christmas Eve homily in Rome. At a Mass at St Peter's Basilica, the Pope prayed for God to “implant his peace in our hearts” but also to “break the rods of the oppressors”. The 83-year-old pontiff stopped twice to bless babies held up to him. About 10,000 people attended the Mass. In his Christmas homily, Pope Benedict said: “We are grateful that God gives himself into our hands as a child, begging as it were for our love, implanting his peace in our hearts.The President, the Vice president, the Prime Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar have greeted the nation on the occasion of Christmas. In a message, the President, Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil has said that the day symbolizes a yearning of humanity for lasting peace and joy. The Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari said the day symbolises a very significant truth of life. He said that values like peace, love, compassion and tolerance have the power to transform our lives and bring hope in troubled times. In his message, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that Christmas is a celebration of the spirit of brotherhood and an opportunity to spread joy and share happiness. He said that the festival also underlines the need to follow the ideals of sacrifice, service, redemption and love and compassion. In her message the speaker said it is an opportunity to celebrate the noble message of Lord Jesus Christ to propagate the virtue of tolerance, harmony and brotherhood.