VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI urged Thursday an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East during his midnight mass Christmas homily.

"Let us pray that peace will be established there, that hatred and violence will cease," he said, referring in particular to Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Jerusalem's Latin patriarch said on Monday that the pope will visit the Holy Land in May on his first trip to the region as pontiff.

"With joy we would like to announce to you the desire of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to visit the Holy Land as a pilgrim next May," Fuad Twal, the Catholic leader in the Holy Land, told reporters.

It was the first official confirmation of Benedict's widely mooted trip to the region -- his first since being elected pope in 2005.

"The supreme pontiff wishes to pray with us and for us, and to acquire first-hand knowledge of the hard conditions of our region," Twal said in his Christmas message.

"We are confident in the Lord that this pontifical pilgrimage and pastoral visit will be a blessing for all of us as well as a substantial contribution to better understanding among the various nations of the region, lifting the barriers and helping solve the problems, removing distress and consolidating good relations among people, religions and denominations," Twal said.

He did not give specific dates. "We are studying the program with the local authorities," he said. Last week the Italian newspaper Il Foglio said the pope would travel to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories from May 8 to 15.