Pope Francis delivered his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing at St. Peter's Square on Christmas Day 
, following his recent launch of the 2025 Jubilee year. During his address, the pontiff emphasized hope, stating, "There is hope for you. There is hope for all of us" 
, while also acknowledging the "desolations in the world, including wars, children being shot, and bombs on schools and hospitals" .
The global Christmas celebrations revealed stark contrasts between regions. In Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, festivities were notably subdued for the second consecutive year 
. The city, which typically attracts over two million visitors during the Christmas season, saw its streets largely empty, with no Christmas tree in the main square and hotel occupancy plummeting from 80% to 3% . Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, led a minimalist midnight Mass at the Church of Nativity, urging people "not to lose hope" despite the ongoing conflicts .
Meanwhile, other parts of the world maintained more traditional celebrations. In Paris, the newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral held its first Christmas masses in five years 
, while European cities like Strasbourg, known as the 'Christmas Capital,' erected a 31-meter Christmas tree and hosted festive markets . In India, cities such as Muzaffarnagar and Ratlam celebrated with decorated churches, special prayers, and community gatherings 
.
Pope Francis delivered his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing at St. Peter's Square on Christmas Day , following his recent launch of the 2025 Jubilee year. During his address, the pontiff emphasized hope, stating, "There is hope for you. There is hope for all of us" , while also acknowledging the "desolations in the world, including wars, children being shot, and bombs on schools and hospitals" .
The global Christmas celebrations revealed stark contrasts between regions. In Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, festivities were notably subdued for the second consecutive year . The city, which typically attracts over two million visitors during the Christmas season, saw its streets largely empty, with no Christmas tree in the main square and hotel occupancy plummeting from 80% to 3% . Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, led a minimalist midnight Mass at the Church of Nativity, urging people "not to lose hope" despite the ongoing conflicts .
Meanwhile, other parts of the world maintained more traditional celebrations. In Paris, the newly renovated Notre Dame Cathedral held its first Christmas masses in five years , while European cities like Strasbourg, known as the 'Christmas Capital,' erected a 31-meter Christmas tree and hosted festive markets . In India, cities such as Muzaffarnagar and Ratlam celebrated with decorated churches, special prayers, and community gatherings .
✅Neutral reporting,
based on 60 🗞 sources
