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Pope Benedict XVI will deliver his Thought For The Day on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 on Friday 24 December at 7.45am.

Pope Benedict's Christmas message to the British people follows his UK visit in September. In an unprecedented move – the Pope has not presented material specifically written for a radio or television audience before – Pope Benedict recorded Thought For The Day in Rome on Wednesday 22 December.

Gwyneth Williams, Controller, Radio 4, said: "I'm delighted Pope Benedict is sharing his Christmas message with the Radio 4 audience. It's significant that the Pope has chosen Thought For The Day to give his first personally scripted broadcast – and what better time to do so than on the eve of one of the biggest celebrations on the Christian calendar."

Thought For The Day is broadcast within the Today programme on Radio 4 at 7.45am Monday to Saturday. It offers approximately three minutes of personal reflection from faith leaders and believers from a range of religious denominations. Those contributing to the programme have included Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Indarjit Singh and Mona Siddiqui.

Thought For The Day was first broadcast in 1970, succeeding earlier religious thought strands Ten To Eight (1965-1970) and Lift Up Your Hearts on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Home Service (1939-1965).

SD