Pope Benedict baptises one of 21 newborns during a mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican yesterday January 9, 2011. — Reuters picVATICAN CITY, Jan 10 — Pope Benedict today called on Pakistan to repeal its anti-blasphemy law, saying the law serves as a pretext for violence against religious minorities such as Christians in predominantly Muslim countries.

Speaking in his annual address to diplomats, dedicated this year almost exclusively to religious freedom, he also said Middle East governments must protect minority Christians, following bomb attacks against churches in Egypt and Iraq. — Reuters