Pope prays for peace, families, world in new year

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis made his New Year's wish on Thursday: No more wars.

Tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans crowded into St. Peter's Square for the pope's first window appearance of 2015.

Francis expressed "the wish that there will never be more wars." He told the crowd that "peace is always possible. We must search for it."

He pointed to a sign in the crowd that said "Prayer is at the root of peace," and said he agreed with that.

Earlier, celebrating Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, he prayed for blessings for "the entire human family." Francis also asked that God "grant peace in our day- peace in hearts, peace in families, peace among the nations."

(© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)