In pictures: Christmas Day
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In Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus, Patriarch Michel Sabbah kicked off Christmas celebrations by carrying a statue of the infant Jesus through the Church of the Nativity. -
At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI presided over his first Christmas Eve mass, blessing congregants and calling for peace in the Middle East. -
Catholics in the Iranian capital, Tehran, lit candles to mark the coming of Christmas. -
Similar rituals took place around the world. Here a man lights a candle during Mass in Sofia, Bulgaria. -
Christians in Beijing, China, worshipped at registered churches. -
Australia's Bondi Beach filled with its usual collection of surfers, backpackers and cricketers for an alcohol-free Christmas in the sunshine. -
In New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina, churches were packed for an emotional midnight Mass service. -
Roman Catholics have been celebrating Christmas - here they attend Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus. -
Pope Benedict XVI addressed the faithful from St Peter's Basilica in Rome with a personal message. -
In the Indian island of Car Nicobar - badly hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami a year ago - they sang carols outside temporary shelters. -
Five-year-old Tenasha waits for her father after midnight mass in Sri Lanka's tsunami-stricken city of Galle. -
Bathers in London's Hyde Park took their traditional Christmas Day dip. -
Malaysian youths sprayed each other with artificial snow in the capital Kuala Lumpur. -
this is the season to be jolly, lalalalalalalalalala~~~