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.
Christmas around the world
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.