Pope Benedict XVI invited about 250 poor people to join him for a post-Christmas lunch of lasagna, veal, and cake on Sunday.

"To those who ask why Mother Teresa was famous, the answer is easy: she lived her life in a humble and hidden way, for the love of God and in love with God," Pope Benedict said.

Before the meal, the pontiff delivered his traditional Sunday blessing from his studio window, denouncing Christmas Day attacks on Christians in the Philippines and Nigeria.

"Once again, the earth is stained by blood," he lamented.

The Pope also condemned a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed 45 people at an aid center on Christmas.

"I express my heartfelt condolences to the victims of this absurd violence and once again repeat my appeal to abandon ways of hatred and find peaceful solutions to conflicts so that people can live in peace and security," he said.