In Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, festive decorations were missing for the second year in a row.
The crowds of hundreds paled in comparison to the throngs of tourists and pilgrims past Christmases – a reflection of the somber mood churning as war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
In St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis urged the faithful to think “about war, machine-gunned children, bombs in schools or hospitals” a day after he repeated his condemnation of the “brutality” of Israeli attacks. From Israeli diplomats.
In Munger Square, the heart of the Palestinian city dominated by a venerable church that marks the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, a group of scouts held a parade to break the morning silence.
“Our children want to play and laugh,” read a sign one of them carried, as his friends whistled and cheered.
Traditionally in Bethlehem, a magnificent Christmas tree lights up Manger Square, but local authorities opted for an elaborate celebration for the second year.
“This year we limited our joy,” Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman told AFP.
Prayers, including the church’s famous midnight mass, will still be held in the presence of the Latin Patriarch of the Catholic Church, but the celebrations will be of a more strictly liturgical nature.
The patriarch, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzabala, told the crowd in Bethlehem that he had just returned from Gaza, where he “saw everything destroyed, poverty, disaster”.
“But I’ve also seen life – they don’t give up. So you shouldn’t either. Never.”
Despite the somber mood, some Christians – who number 185,000 in Israel and 47,000 in the Palestinian territories – were seeking refuge in prayer.
“Christmas is a festival of faith … we are going to pray and ask God for an end to our suffering,” Salman said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Christians around the world for supporting Israel in its fight against the “powers of evil” in a message.
Christians in Syria
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In war-torn Gaza, which is separated from the West Bank by Israeli territory, hundreds of Christians gathered at a church to pray for an end to the war.
“This Christmas carries the stench of death and destruction,” said George al-Saigh, who has sought refuge for weeks in the 12th-century Greek Orthodox church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza City.
“There is no joy, no festive spirit. We don’t even know who will live until the next holiday.”
Elsewhere in the Middle East, hundreds of people took to the streets in Christian areas of Damascus to protest the burning of a Christmas tree in a Syrian city two weeks after Islamist-led rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
“If we are not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we did before, then we are not here anymore,” said one protester who gave his name as Georges.
Syria’s new rulers have pledged to protect the country’s religious minorities, including Christians.
But some Syrian Christians, including long-time secular opponents of Assad’s rule, fear the new leadership’s Islamist ideology will undermine the aspirations of their community and other minorities during the transition.
Tracking Santa
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In Germany, Christmas was marred by deadly market attacks, prompting President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to issue a message of healing.
“Hate and violence should not be the last word,” he said.
Pope Francis on Tuesday marked Christmas Eve with a special ceremony to launch Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations that will draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
The pope, who has made strong comments condemning Israel’s military action in Gaza in recent days, opened the “holy doors” of St. Peter’s Basilica before presiding over Christmas Eve mass.
Among the groups registered to participate in the Jubilee, which has the motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” is the Italian LGBTQ group La Tenda di Gionata, which reflects the Pope’s call for the Church to be open to all.
There were many moments of joy on Christmas Eve, as families from all over the world gathered to share food and presents.
As the annual tradition of “tracking” Santa Claus sprang into action, a US Air Force general said there was no need to worry that recent mysterious drone sightings could affect deliveries.
General Gregory Guillot’s assurances came after the US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command reported that Santa and his reindeer were making stops across Asia, including Japan and North Korea.
“Of course, we are concerned about drones and other things in the air,” NORAD commander Guillot told Fox News. “But I don’t foresee any difficulties with drones for Santa this year.”
And in Paris, worshipers gathered at Notre Dame Cathedral for the first Christmas Mass since it reopened after a devastating fire in 2019.
“We came here early to attend the 4:00 pm mass and get a good spot. It’s a great monument,” said Julien Viole, a 40-year-old engineer who traveled to Paris from Switzerland with his two children.
Notre Dame was officially reopened on December 7 in the presence of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.