Churches worldwide marked the birth of the Infant Jesus with joy, prayers, and devotion. The world welcomed Baby Jesus, born in a manger, with celebrations on Wednesday at midnight. These included fasting, arranging cribs, and eagerly awaiting Santa Claus's arrival. Special services, midnight Masses, and processions brought a spiritual fervour to the Nativity festivities.

Pope Francis, leading the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas, celebrated a solemn Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, marking the 12th Christmas of his pontificate. During the Mass, the pontiff officially inaugurated the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which is expected to attract approximately 32 million tourists to Rome next year.

In his sermon, Pope Francis highlighted the theme of hope, which defines the Holy Year. He urged believers to see hope as a call to action, saying, “Hope is a summons not to tarry, to be held back by old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness. It calls us to be upset with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them.”

At the beginning of Tuesday's ceremony, Francis oversaw the opening of a special bronze-panelled "Holy Door" at St. Peter's, which is only open during Jubilee years. The Vatican expects up to 100,000 pilgrims to walk through the door each day next year. On Wednesday, the pope will deliver his Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message and blessing.
(With Reuters inputs)