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Christians of the world celebrate Christmas

Across the world, Christians have begun marking Christmas with services, with Pope Francis holding midnight mass at the Vatican, the BBC reported.

In the holy city of Bethlehem, the West Bank town where it is believed that Jesus was born, events have been overshadowed by recent violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

“There’s lights, there’s carols, but there’s an underlying sense of tension,” one pilgrim to Bethlehem, Briton Paul Haines, told Associated Press news agency.

BETHLEHEM

An Armenian priest prays during a morning mass at the Image copyright: EPA
Image caption: An Armenian priest prays during Mass in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, accepted by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ
Nigerian pilgrims pray inside the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2015Image copyright: Reuters
Image caption: Nigerian pilgrims pray inside inside the Grotto, where Christians believe Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus
Worshippers light candles inside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2015.Image copyrightReuters
Image caption: Bethlehem has been the scene of violent clashes in late 2015

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis swings a censer in front of a statue of baby Jesus as he celebrates a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2015Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: Pope Francis said Christmas was the time to “once more discover who we are”

BEIJING

A cross-bearer prepares to enter the church as he attends the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 24, 2015Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: A cross-bearer prepares to enter Beijing’s Catholic Church for Mass
Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 25, 2015Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: The US and British embassies in China had issued a warning about a terror threat in Beijing
Young Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 24, 2015Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: Young Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve Mass in China’s capital

IRAQ

Iraqi Christian priests hold a Christmas mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation (Sayidat al-Nejat), in central Baghdad, on December 24, 2015Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: Hundreds attended Mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation in central Baghdad
Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation (Sayidat al-Nejat), in central Baghdad, on December 24, 2015.Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: Christians in Iraq have faced persecution by the so-called Islamic State

INDONESIA

Christian faithfuls hold candles as they attend a mass service on Christmas eve in Surabaya on December 24, 2015.Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images
Image caption: Thousands of people held candles at a service in the city of Surabaya
An Indonesian boy holds the candle during a Christmas Eve mass at the Immanuel church in Jakarta, Indonesia, 24 December 2015Image copyright: EPA
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