As Christians celebrate Christmas, Pope Francis, in his traditional Christmas message, urges “all people of all nations” to find courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions," from the Holy Land to Ukraine, Africa to Asia.
1. Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world from the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica as part of Christmas celebrations, at St. Peter's square in the Vatican, Dec. 25, 2024.
2. Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica, during a special ceremony to mark the launch of the Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome, at the Vatican, Dec. 24, 2024.
3. In this photo provided by Vatican Media, Pope Francis presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Dec. 24, 2024.
4. People attend the traditional Christmas mass in the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, Dec. 24, 2024, for the first time since the fire in 2019.
5. A priest holds a mass on Christmas Eve, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, Dec. 24, 2024.
6. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads the Christmas midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 24, 2024.
7. A salesperson speaks to visitors next to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 25, 2024.
8. Faithful attend the Christmas morning Mass at the Lady of Damascus church, following the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 25, 2024.
9. Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas Eve mass at the Sacred Heart Church of the Syriac Catholics in Basra, Iraq, Dec. 24, 2024.
10. People wear traditional Ukrainian clothes as they mark Christmas Day with a carol singing event outside St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Dec. 25, 2024.
11. Christian faithful leave the Saint Nicholas church after attending a Christmas mass in the small town of Janjeve, Kosovo, during Christmas celebrations, Dec. 25, 2024.
12. Parish priest of Regina Mundi Church, Fr Nqobile Mzolo OMI (2nd L) gives gifts to parishioners at the end of the Christmas Mass at Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, South Africa, Dec. 25, 2024.
13. Catholics attend a mass during Christmas celebrations at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia, Dec. 25, 2024.
14. Britain's King Charles speaks with Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Williams, as Queen Camilla, Britain's William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and other family members leave St. Mary Magdalene's church, on the Sandringham estate, Dec. 25, 2024.
15. People attend the traditional Christmas lunch for the needy and poor organized by Christian charity Community of Sant'Egidio in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, in Rome, Italy, Dec. 25, 2024.
16. Participants take part in a Christmas day swim in the sea at Brighton beach, southern England, Dec. 25, 2024.
17. Participants in Santa costumes jump into the water during the 115th edition of the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona's Port Vell, Spain, Dec. 25, 2024.
18. Women shop for Christmas decorations at a roadside market in Ahmedabad, India, Dec. 24, 2024.
19. Catholic priests enter the church for the Christmas mass at the Notre Dame de la Paix Cathedral in N'Djamena, Chad, Dec. 24, 2024.
20. Worshippers walk in front of Xishiku Church, also known as the North Church, on Christmas Eve in Beijing, China, Dec. 24, 2024.
21. Filipino Catholics attend the first of the nine-day dawn mass known as Misa de Gallo, ahead of Christmas, at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Dec. 16, 2024.