VATICAN CITY, March 9 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Sunday called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate for peace, condemning a surge of violence in the region as part of a "spiral of destruction".

"In recent days, violence and horror have once again bloodied the Holy Land, feeding a spiral of destruction and death which seems to have no end," Benedict told pilgrims from his balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.

A Palestinian gunman killed eight Jewish seminary students on Thursday. Hamas, which had vowed to avenge the more than 125 Palestinians killed in a recent Gaza offensive by Israel, claimed responsibility.

"I encourage the Israeli and Palestinian authorities in their intention to continue to construct, through negotiation, a peaceful and just future for their peoples," Benedict said after his weekly Angelus blessing.

"And I ask, in the name of God, (for people) to leave the torturous paths of hate and revenge and responsibly to take the roads of dialogue and faith."

The Pope also expressed his concern for a Chaldean Catholic archbishop, Paulos Faraj Rahho, who remains missing after a kidnap in Iraq. Iraqis, he said "continue to suffer blind and absurd violence which is certainly contrary to God's will". (Reporting by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Charles Dick)

AlertNet news is provided by