WASHINGTON (CNS) -- However people feel about U.S. policies abroad, the troops on the ground carrying out those policies have "our respect and admiration," Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said in a Christmas letter to Catholic military chaplains.

"We know that on this Christmas Americans are divided, at times radically, as to the proper course of our present military engagements," he wrote. "While our military members can feel caught up in the middle of these divisions and confusions at home, they must not doubt our respect and admiration as they seek to bring about peace and harmony to lands and people torn by violence."

"Our love and prayers go out to them, fervently hoping for an end to civil unrest in areas where we have invested so much of our precious treasure -- lives lost, bodies and spirits sorely, permanently wounded, and families who must cope with the often destructive results of extended separations," he said.

Archbishop O'Brien called the soldiers, sailors and Marines served by the military chaplains a "uniquely generous flock" to whom Americans "are deeply grateful" for their sacrifices.

"I know how inspired you are as you witness firsthand the sacrifices of our people," he wrote. "In turn please know how inspired and gratified our good people are by your lives of priestly sacrifice."

Archbishop O'Brien also noted that the priest shortage affects the military chaplaincy, which depends on dioceses and religious orders to release priests from their own dwindling numbers to serve in the military.

"I know how strapped our bishops and religious superiors are for priests to serve," he said. "I am grateful to those who nevertheless allow a generous portion of their priests to serve in our military archdiocese.

"We are working and praying that more will see their obligation to do so, lest we lose an increasing number of young Catholics to other churches and movements," he wrote.

Archbishop O'Brien was visiting U.S. troops in Kuwait at Christmas. Auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese spent Christmas with U.S. armed forces in England, Hawaii and South Korea.