Reports of Christmas celebrations have also come in from abroad. Pilgrims lined up early today to walk through the great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City.
Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year, inaugurating a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome.
In Australia, from the ocean to the bush, people have flocked to beaches, parks, and paddocks to celebrate Christmas. In western Queensland, the festive spirit took on an outback twist, with Santa on horseback and competitions for the best Christmas mailbox.
In Nepal, the Christian community celebrated Christmas with great enthusiasm. Nearly 1,000 Christians attended the mass prayer at Nepal’s largest church—the Assumption Church at Bhanimandal in the Lalitpur district.