BETHLEHEM, West Bank \u2014 Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem\u2019s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families there and at other sites across the Holy Land heralded a much-needed boost of holiday spirit, after two years of subdued celebrations because of the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n
At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Midnight Mass in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica. In his homily, he marveled at the \u201cwisdom\u201d of the Christmas story \u2013 an infant Jesus born to save mankind.<\/p>\n
kAm\u201cx? E96 7246 @7 E96 DF776C:?8 @7 E96 A@@C[ Wv@5X D6?5D @?6 H9@ \ud83d\ude00 5676?D6=6DD E@ 36 E96 DEC6?8E9 E@ C:D6 282:?[\u201d E96 7:CDE &]$] A@A6 E@=5 2 A24<65 32D:=:42]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmq6E9=696>[ H96C6 r9C:DE:2?D 36=:6G6 y6DFD H2D 3@C?[ 925 42?46=65 r9C:DE>2D 46=63C2E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 H2C] qFE @? (65?6D52J[ E96 8:2?E r9C:DE>2D EC66 C6EFC?65 E@ |2?86C $BF2C6[ E6>A@C2C:=J C6A=24:?8 E96 H2CE:>6 ?2E:G:EJ D46?6 @7 323J y6DFD DFCC@F?565 3J CF33=6 2?5 32C365 H:C6 \ud83d\ude15 2 9@>286 E@ v2K2\u2019D DF776C:?8]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmr2C5:?2= !:6C32EE:DE2 !:KK232==2[ E96 E@A r2E9@=:4 =6256C \ud83d\ude15 E96 w@=J {2?5[ <:4<65 @77 E9:D J62C\u2019D 46=63C2E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 EC25:E:@?2= AC@46DD:@? 7C@> y6CFD2=6> E@ q6E9=696>[ 42==:?8 7@C \u201c2 r9C:DE>2D 7F== @7 =:89E]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n
kAm!:KK232==2 D2:5 96 42>6 362C:?8 8C66E:?8D 7C@> v2K2\u2019D E:?J r9C:DE:2? 4@>>F?:EJ[ H96C6 96 96=5 2 AC6\\r9C:DE>2D |2DD @? $F?52J] x? E96 56G2DE2E:@?[ 96 D2H 2 56D:C6 E@ C63F:=5]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c(6[ 2== E@86E96C[ H6 564:56 E@ 36 E96 =:89E[ 2?5 E96 =:89E @7 q6E9=696> \ud83d\ude00 E96 =:89E @7 E96 H@C=5[\u201d 96 E@=5 E9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6[ r9C:DE:2? 2?5 |FD=:>]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAms6DA:E6 E96 9@=:52J 4966C[ E96 :>A24E @7 E96 H2C \ud83d\ude15 E96 xDC26=:\\@44FA:65 (6DE q2?< \ud83d\ude00 24FE6[ 6DA64:2==J \ud83d\ude15 q6E9=696>[ H96C6 2C@F?5 g_ A6C46?E @7 E96 |FD=:>\\>2;@C:EJ 4:EJ\u2019D C6D:56?ED 56A6?5 FA@? E@FC:D>\\C6=2E65 3FD:?6DD6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%96C6 H6C6 @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 7@C6:8?6CD 3FE D@>6 C6D:56?ED D2:5 E96J 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ D66 D:8?D @7 492?86 2D E@FC:D> D=@H=J C6EFC?D]k^Am<\/p>\n
k9cm\u2018w@A6 \ud83d\ude15 G6CJ 52C< D:EF2E:@?D\u2019k^9cm<\/p>\n
kAm\u201c%@52J \ud83d\ude00 2 52J @7 ;@J[ 2 52J @7 9@A6[ E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 C6EFC? @7 ?@C>2= =:76 96C6[\u201d D2:5 q6E9=696> C6D:56?E v6@C86EE6 y24<2>2?[ 2 E@FC 8F:56] $96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5[ |:4926= y24<2>2?[ 2?@E96C 8F:56[ 2C6 7C@> r9C:DE:2? q6E9=696> 72>:=:6D E92E DEC6E49 324< 86?6C2E:@?D]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm%9:D \ud83d\ude00 E96 7:CDE C62= r9C:DE>2D 46=63C2E:@? 7@C E96:C EH@ 49:=5C6?[ 2865 a `^a 2?5 `_ >@?E9D]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmsFC:?8 E96 H2C[ E96 y24<2>2?D A:G@E65 E@ 4C62E6 2 H63D:E6 D6==:?8 !2=6DE:?:2? 92?5:4C27ED E@ DFAA@CE @E96CD H9@ =@DE E96:C =:G6=:9@@5D] %96 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 \ud83d\ude15 E96 4:EJ ;F>A65 7C@> `c A6C46?E E@ ed A6C46?E[ q6E9=696> |2J@C |296C }:4@=2 r2?2H2E: D2:5 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmp G:D:E@C 7C@> uC2?46[ |@?2 #:6H6C[ D2:5 36:?8 \ud83d\ude15 q6E9=696> 96=A65 96C 2AAC64:2E6 E96 >62?:?8 @7 E96 9@=:52J]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAm\u201cr9C:DE>2D \ud83d\ude00 =:<6 9@A6 \ud83d\ude15 G6CJ 52C< D:EF2E:@?D[\u201d D96 D2:5]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAms6DA:E6 E96 v2K2 462D67:C6 E92E 3682? \ud83d\ude15 ~4E@36C[ E6?D:@?D C6>2:? 9:89 \ud83d\ude15 E96 (6DE q2?<[ H:E9 xDC26=: >:=:E2CJ C2:5D \ud83d\ude15 H92E :E 56D4C:36D 2D 2 4C24<5@H? @? >:=:E2?ED] pEE242?:E2C:2? @77:46 DE2CE65 4@==64E:?8 52E2 \ud83d\ude15 a__e]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmxDC26= 42AEFC65 E96 (6DE q2?< \ud83d\ude15 E96 `hef |:562DE H2C] %96 :?E6C?2E:@?2==J C64@8?:K65 !2=6DE:?:2? pFE9@C:EJ 92D =:>:E65 2FE@?@>J \ud83d\ude15 A2CED @7 E96 E6CC:E@CJ[ :?4=F5:?8 q6E9=696>]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmpD A@G6CEJ 2?5 F?6>A=@J>6?E 92G6 D@2C65[ 23@FE c[___ A6@A=6 92G6 =67E q6E9=696> \ud83d\ude15 D62C49 @7 H@C<[ E96 >2J@C D2:5 \u2013 A2CE @7 2 H@CCJ:?8 EC6?5 7@C r9C:DE:2?D[ H9@ 2C6 =62G:?8 E96 C68:@? \ud83d\ude15 5C@G6D] r9C:DE:2?D 244@F?E 7@C =6DD E92? a A6C46?E @7 E96 (6DE q2?<\u2019D C@F89=J b >:==:@? C6D:56?ED]k^Am<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican, Wednesday, Dec.24, 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AP photo \/ Gregorio Borgia<\/p>\n
k9cm%96 368:??:?8 @7 2 C6EFC? E@ ?@C>2= =:76k^9cm<\/p>\n
kAmu25: +@F893:[ H9@ AC6G:@FD=J H@C<65 @G6CD66:?8 =@8:DE:4D 7@C E@FC 8C@FAD[ D2:5 9:D 49:=5C6? H6C6 64DE2E:4 E@ D66 >2C49:?8 32?5D DEC62>:?8 E9C@F89 q6E9=696>\u2019D DEC66ED[ !2=6DE:?:2? 7=28D 2?5 E2CE2? 5C2A65 @? E96:C 328A:A6D] u@C E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ E96 D4@FED >2C4965 D:=6?E=J 2D 2 AC@E6DE 282:?DE E96 H2C]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmxC6?6 z:C>:K[ H9@ 8C6H FA \ud83d\ude15 q6E9=696> 2?5 =:G6D \ud83d\ude15 #2>2==29[ D2:5 E96 D4@FE A2C256 \ud83d\ude00 2>@?8 96C 72G@C:E6 r9C:DE>2D EC25:E:@?D] w6C `d\\J62C\\@=5 52F89E6C A=2JD E96 E6?@C 5CF> H:E9 E96 #2>2==29 D4@FED]k^Am<\/p>\n
kAmqFE 96C 72>:=J 925 E@ H2<6 FA 2E d 2]>] E@ 2CC:G6 7@C E96 A2C256[ 27E6C H2:E65 23@FE E9C66 9@FCD 2E xDC26=: 4964:?FE6D H:E9@FE E96 4964<\/a>256 EC2G6= 5:77:4F=E 7@C !2=6DE:?:2?D[ D96 D2:5]k^Am<\/a><\/p>\n kAmx? E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ E96 9625D @7 49FC496D \ud83d\ude15 y6CFD2=6> FC865 4@?8C682E:@?D E@ 7@C8@ \u201c2?J F??646DD2C:=J 76DE:G6 24E:G:E:6D]\u201d %96J 6?4@FC2865 AC:6DED 2?5 E96 72:E97F= E@ 7@4FD @? r9C:DE>2D\u2019 DA:C:EF2= >62?:?8 2?5 42==65 7@C \u201c76CG6?E AC2J6CD 7@C 2 ;FDE 2?5 =2DE:?8 A6246 7@C @FC 36=@G65 w@=J {2?5]\u201dk^Am<\/p>\n k9cm~E96C |:55=6 t2DE 6G6?ED >2C< E96 72:E97F=\u2019D C6D:=:6?46k^9cm<\/p>\n kAm$2?E2D H6C6 6G6CJH96C6 2D E96 EC25:E:@?2= A2C256 C6EFC?65 E@ }2K2C6E9 \ud83d\ude15 ?@CE96C? xDC26=[ C6G6C65 3J r9C:DE:2?D 2D E96 A=246 H96C6 E96 2C492?86= v23C:6= 2??@F?465 E@ |2CJ D96 H@F=5 8:G6 3:CE9 E@ y6DFD]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm%96 9:==E@A E@H? 7:==65 H:E9 49:=5C6?] $@>6 DE2CC65 \ud83d\ude15 =:G6 }2E:G:EJ D46?6D[ 2?5 @E96CD =:?65 E96 C@FE6 H2:E:?8 7@C 7=@2ED 2?5 42?5J F?56C 2 3C:89E[ H2C> DF?]k^Am<\/p>\n kAmx?46?D6 H27E65 @G6C A6HD A24<65 7@C r9C:DE>2D tG6 |2DD 2E v2K2\u2019D @?=J r2E9@=:4 49FC49[ H96C6 76DE:G6 49:=5C6?\u2019D AC@8C2>D 925 2=D@ E2<6? A=246] %96 w@=J u2>:=J 4@>A@F?5 H2D 9:E 3J 7C28>6?ED 7C@> 2? xDC26=: D96== \ud83d\ude15 yF=J[ <:==:?8 E9C66 A6@A=6] xDC26= 42==65 :E 2? 244:56?E 2?5 6IAC6DD65 C68C6E]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm~? E96 @FED<:CED @7 s2>2D4FD[ $JC:2[ 9F?5C65D @7 4@?8C682?ED A=2??65 E@ C6EFC? 7@C r9C:DE>2D |2DD6D 2E 2 vC66< ~CE9@5@I 49FC49 H96C6[ \ud83d\ude15 yF?6[ ad A6@A=6 H6C6 <:==65 \ud83d\ude15 2 DF:4:56 2EE24< 3=2>65 @? xD=2>:4 $E2E6 >:=:E2?ED] ~? %F6D52J[ E96J 82E96C65 E@ =:89E 2 ?6@? :>286 @7 2 r9C:DE>2D EC66 \ud83d\ude15 :ED 4@FCEJ2C5]k^Am<\/p>\n k9cmu6DE:G:E:6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5k^9cm<\/p>\n kAmpE $E] !6E6C\u2019D[ 2? 6DE:>2E65 e[___ A6@A=6 H@CD9:AA65 :?D:56 E96 G2DE 32D:=:42 564@C2E65 H:E9 A@:?D6EE:2D[ H9:=6 2?@E96C d[___ H2E4965 E96 |2DD @? 8:2?E D4C66?D \ud83d\ude15 E96 C2:?\\D@2<65 A:2KK2 @FED:56]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm%96 46=63C2E:@?[ H:E9 C625:?8D 2?5 E96 9@>:=J \ud83d\ude15 2 G2C:6EJ @7 =2?8F286D[ :?4=F5:?8 {2E:?[ DE2CE65 H:E9 49:=5C6? 7C@> 5:776C6?E 4@?E:?6?ED AFEE:?8 7=@H6CD 3J E96 7:8FC6 @7 E96 323J y6DFD]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm{6@ H:== C6EFC? E@ E96 32D:=:42 7@C |2DD @? r9C:DE>2D s2J 7@==@H65 3J 9:D EC25:E:@?2= 3=6DD:?8 7C@> E96 =@88:2]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm!6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 6?;@J65 r9C:DE>2D EC25:E:@?D @? (65?6D52J 36J@?5 9@FD6D @7 H@CD9:A[ E@@[ 7C@> :46\\D<2E:?8 \ud83d\ude15 }6H *@C< r:EJ E@ 492C:EJ DH:>>:?8 \ud83d\ude15 4@=5 D62 H2E6CD @77 }@CE96C? xC6=2?5]k^Am<\/p>\n kAmp=@?8 u=@C:52\u2019D $A246 r@2DE[ $2?E2D 9@AA65 @? DFC73@2C5D[ ?@E D=6:89D] wF?5C65D @7 DFC76CD 5C6DD65 2D $2?E2 E@@< E@ E96 H2G6D @77 r@4@2 q6249 \ud83d\ude15 H92E 92D 364@>6 2? 2??F2= EC25:E:@? 7@C E96 A2DE `f J62CD]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm%96 $2?E2\\DFC7:?8 3C@F89E E@ E96 36249 E9@FD2?5D @7 DA64E2E@CD 5C6DD65 \ud83d\ude15 r9C:DE>2D 4@DEF>6D H9@ 52?465 E@ =:G6 >FD:4 2?5 E@@< A2CE \ud83d\ude15 2 9@=:52J 4@DEF>6 4@?E6DE]k^Am<\/p>\n kAm%96 6G6?E C2:D6D >@?6J 7@C E96 u=@C:52 $FC7 |FD6F> 2?5 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E 96=AD A6@A=6 H:E9 42?46C]k^Am<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BETHLEHEM, West Bank \u2014 Thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem\u2019s Manger Square on Christmas Eve as families there…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":71844,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154,7600,5527,22186,5525,26301,3954,5061,817,18487,36695,36686,27631,24833,654,2510,36665,35317,36579,5144],"class_list":["post-71843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news","tag-christianity","tag-christmas","tag-christmas-eve","tag-christmas-traditions","tag-gaza-strip","tag-holy-land","tag-israel","tag-jesus","tag-mary","tag-mass-liturgy","tag-mother-of-jesus","tag-nativity-of-jesus","tag-nativity-scene","tag-nazareth","tag-palestinians","tag-pierbattista-pizzaballa","tag-ramallah","tag-saint-peter","tag-west-bank"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}