BETHLEHEM – Pope Francis opened global Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as Israel’s war against Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world’s most popular holidays.

After previously saying he was thinking of the people “who are suffering from war – we are thinking of Palestine, of Israel, of Ukraine,” the pope struck a somber tone during his Christmas Eve Mass.

“Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once again rejected by the futile logic of war, by the battle of arms that, even today, prevents him from finding his place in the world,” the pope said.

The biblical city in the occupied West Bank, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago, has all but canceled annual Christmas celebrations that normally attract thousands of tourists.

This year, the city ditched its giant Christmas tree, brass bands and extravagant nativity scene in favor of a few festive lights.

A huge Palestinian flag had been unfurled in the center of the city with the words: “The bells of Bethlehem ring for a ceasefire in Gaza.”

“A lot of people are dying for this country,” said Nicole Najjar, an 18-year-old student.

“It’s really hard to celebrate while our people are dying.”

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said: “We are here to pray and not just to ask for a ceasefire. A ceasefire is not enough. We must end these hostilities and start a new chapter, because violence only breeds violence.”

Sister Nabila Salah of the Holy Catholic Church in Gaza – where the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said two Christian women were killed by an Israeli sniper earlier this month – told AFP: “All Christmas celebrations have been cancelled.”

“How do we celebrate when we…hear the noise of tanks and bombing instead of the ringing of bells?” she said.

In Syria, churches limited celebrations to prayers in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack killed about 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures.

The Palestinian militants also kidnapped around 250 people, of whom Israel says 129 are still in the Gaza Strip.

Israel responded with a sustained bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, killing 20,424 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest tally from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

NEW CHRISTMAS DAY

Ukraine, invaded by Russia nearly two years ago, celebrates Christmas for the first time on December 25, ditching the traditional Orthodox date of January 7 celebrated in Russia in a snub to Moscow.

In the southern Black Sea port of Odessa, churchgoers prayed and lit candles while priests in gold robes held a Christmas service in the Nativity Cathedral decorated with fir trees and a nativity scene.

“We believe that we should really celebrate Christmas with the whole world, far away, far away from Moscow. For me, this is the new message now,” said a smiling community member, Olena, whose son works as a frontline paramedic.

The change in date – moving away from the Julian calendar preferred by the Orthodox Church – is part of efforts since the invasion to eliminate vestiges of the Russian and Soviet empires.

Surfing Santas

In countries not torn by war, revelers donned Santa hats to spread a dash of holiday cheer—they held a city race in Skopje, North Macedonia; Surfing the waves in Florida; Jogging on muddy forest paths on the outskirts of Paris; Diving into the sea near the British port of Dover; or swim in Lake Geneva with a drink in hand.

In Sydney, Australia, where the big day had already arrived, many residents and tourists went to the beach wearing red wool hats despite the southern hemisphere summer heat.

And children around the world followed Santa Claus, his reindeer and their gift-laden sleigh using Norad Tracks Santa, an interactive 3D website run annually by a joint U.S.-Canadian military monitoring agency.

PRAYERS IN TURKEY

In southern Turkey, most of which was devastated by an earthquake in February, some believers celebrated mass in front of the ruins of their church in Antakya.

“It is important for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But it is a very sad Christmas,” said Vehbi Tadrasgil, a 55-year-old who lost his wife and two of his three children in the earthquake that killed at least 50,000 people in Turkey and more than 5,000 in neighboring Syria.

“I hope their souls are here, I am sure our prayers go out to them,” he said.

Twenty kilometers (12 miles) along the coast in Samandag, a generator powered the lights of a tree in front of the Saint-Ilyas church, which was preserved.

“After the earthquake, our community – 400 families – was wiped out. This Christmas we would like to wish everyone rebirth, love, joy and peace. We must move forward and build a new life,” said Father Yumurta.

“It is said that with the birth of the child Jesus begins a new life, a new beginning. It will also be a new beginning for us here,” he said.