Millions of Christians across continents celebrated Christmas while observing their respective traditions.
Pope Benedict XVI held the traditional mass and addressed the gathering at St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
The pontiff called for ending the bloodshed in Syria which has been facing an uprising for the last 21 months.
"I appeal for an end to the bloodshed and easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, may peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict that does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims," said the pontiff during his conventional Christmas message known as Urbi et Orbi.
However, in war-torn Syria itself, Christians, who are frequently under attack from the Islamic majority, are not so optimistic despite the festival season.
"This time last year we expected for the crisis to end in a month or two. But a year on it's still going. People are sad because we don't know what's going to happen or when the crisis will be resolved. We can't see a way out," a Christian shopkeeper told Euronews.
Scores of people from Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan participated in a Christmas mass held in the Jordanian capital Amman, praying for peace.
In the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, thousands of pilgrims gathered to celebrate the first Christmas after the UN upgrade of Palestine.
"Please continue to fight for a just cause to achieve peace and security for the people of the Holy Land. The path [to statehood] remains long, and will require a united effort," said the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal. The top Roman Catholic cleric said during his Christmas Eve Mass that the celebrations mark "the birth of Christ our Lord and the birth of the state of Palestine".
In Nigeria, a gun attack in a village killed five Christians, people including a pastor.
Nuns pray during Catholic mass at the Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem on Christmas dayReutersHula Santa sits on top of decorated Christmas tree along Waikiki Beach in HawaiiReutersKuba, 3, builds a snowman during a late afternoon walk with his family on Christmas Day at a playground in WarsawReutersA priest conducts a mass at a Catholic church during Christmas celebrations in Srinagar, India.ReutersPeople eat inside Los Caputxinos church during a Christmas charity lunch for the homeless and low income families organized in Palma de MallorcaReutersFamilies celebrate Christmas day watching the symphony of lights and sound attraction at a park in ManilaReutersNATO troops from the International Security Assistance Force get food on Christmas in KabulReutersMetropolitan Kirill, deputy chairman of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, blesses during a Christmas Eve mass in Alexander Nevski Cathedral in SofiaReutersAn Iraqi policeman stands guard outside the St. Joseph Chaldean church during a mass on Christmas in BaghdadReutersNATO troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) sing Christmas carols during a Christmas in KabulReutersA Christian man kiss his daughter during a mass on Christmas at St. Joseph Chaldean church in BaghdadReutersPakistani Christians attend a mass on Christmas day at a cathedral church in PeshawarReutersWorshippers attend a Christmas mass at Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica church in the southern Indian city of KochiReutersPope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of the Christmas night mass in the Saint Peter's Basilica at the VaticanReutersA man walks next to the sea on a cold and rainy Christmas day on Bondi beach in SydneyReutersPeople walk near The Empire State Building as it is lit up in red and green on Christmas day in New YorkReutersAn image of six-year-old Jesse McCord Lewis, one of 20 schoolchildren killed in the December 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, sits on a snow-covered teddy bear on Christmas morning in Newtown, ConnecticutReutersJordanian and Syrian Christians attend Christmas Mass in AmmanReutersA religious icon is reflected on the window of a compound of St. Mary's Cathedral as people visit for a ceremony on Christmas eve in YangonReuters
