Pope Benedict XVI has led condemnation of a New Year's Day bomb attack in a Coptic church in Egypt that claimed 21 lives, urging world leaders to defend Christians against abuse.
The pontiff was the first religious leader to react to the bombing which targeted worshippers as they emerged from a midnight Mass in Alexandria.
In his homily at New Year's Day Mass, the Pope spoke of mounting tensions, "especially discrimination, abuse and religious intolerance which are today striking Christians in particular."
"I once again launch a pressing appeal not to give in to discouragement and resignation," he said, appealing for the "concrete and constant engagement of leaders of nations" to protect Christians.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal called on Christians to show courage in the face of the attack.
"This latest massacre must lead us to reflect on our vocation as Christians in this region, which cannot be allowed to turn its back on the Cross," said Twal, the highest Roman Catholic prelate in the Holy Land.
Condemnation and condolences also flowed out from across the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia strongly "condemns this criminal act which neither our religion nor international norms and ethics approve of," said a foreign ministry official on state news agency SPA. It described the attack as "terrorist".
The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, "condemned in the strongest terms the criminal and terrorist act which targeted civilians who were performing their religious rituals in a church in Alexandria," in a statement.
He urged Egyptians "to disassociate themselves from attempts to instigate sedition or spread division among the people which some want to implant among them."
In Damascus an official said, "Syria strongly denounces this terrorist crime, which is targeting the national unity and religious pluralism of Egypt and other Arab countries."
He said "Syria stands by Egypt" and sent his "condolences to Egypt and to the families of the innocent victims."
The Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas also condemned the attack, saying it was "certain it was the work of elements acting against the interests of Egypt and looking to promote confrontation between Muslims and Christians."
A top Shiite Muslim leader in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, denounced the attack as a "terrorist act aimed at sowing chaos and fear in Egypt".
"This terrorist act bears the fingerprints of Zionists who keep on targeting religious sights and are working to ... sow discord between Muslims and Christians," Kabalan said in a statement.
France led European nations in denouncing the attack.
"France is committed to the respect of fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom, and expresses its support for the Egyptian authorities in their fight against terrorism," deputy foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages said.
French Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, president of the French conference of bishops, called on Catholics to pray for "all the Christians persecuted around the world and for peace."
Alistair Burt, a junior British foreign minister, said Britain sent "sincere condolences".
"At the start of a new year the world must be increasingly vigilant against such attacks wherever they occur, remain united in promotion of common values of tolerance and stand against the terrorist philosophy of violence," he said.
Italy's foreign ministry also condemned the attack in a statement and denounced "the dramatic and systemic violence and persecution that Christian communities have for too long been submitted to in various parts of the world."