In pictures: World celebrates Christmas

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Services are being held around the world as Christians mark the birth of Christ.

Here is our selection of some of the best images so far.

Pope Francis kneels down to pray during a Christmas Eve mass to mark the birth of Jesus Christ at St Peter's Basilica in the VaticanImage source, AFP/Getty Images
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At a Christmas Eve Mass in the Vatican, Pope Francis urged more "sharing and giving", denouncing the "insatiable greed" of modern consumerism

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A girl attends a Christmas Eve mass in Cairo, EgyptImage source, EPA
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In Egypt, this little girl listened attentively during a church service in Cairo

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People attending a Christmas Eve event at a church in Fuyang, China's eastern Anhui provinceImage source, AFP
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Celebrations were held at this church in Fuyang, China's eastern Anhui province

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Indian Christians taking part in Christmas prayers at the Infant Jesus church in Bangalore, IndiaImage source, EPA
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Indian Christians took part in prayers at the Infant Jesus Church in Bangalore

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A woman prays during a Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in LahorImage source, Reuters
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This woman prayed during a Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Pakistani city of Lahore

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Thai and foreign Catholic church goers touch the baby Jesus doll in the Nativity scene during Christmas Day Mass at a church in BangkokImage source, EPA
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People queued at this church in Bangkok to touch the baby Jesus doll in its Nativity scene

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An altar boys holds a cross before a mass at the Notre Dame de Kinshasa cathedral in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of CongoImage source, Reuters
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These altar boys played a key role during celebrations in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo

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A migrant, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, celebrates Christmas, at a temporary shelter in Tijuana, MexicoImage source, Reuters
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A young boy, part of a group of thousands of migrants travelling from Central America to the US, celebrated at a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico

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Indonesian Christians attending mass on Christmas Eve at a stadium in Surabaya, the country"s second largest cityImage source, AFP
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A Mass on Christmas Eve was held at a stadium in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city

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Members of a swimming club take their traditional Christmas bath at the Orankesee lake in BerlinImage source, AFP
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Members of a Berlin swimming club took their traditional Christmas bath at the city's Orankesee lake

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A couple kiss during a Christmas Eve ceremony at St Antuan Church in Istanbul, TurkeyImage source, EPA
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Meanwhile, this couple kissed by a Christmas tree in Istanbul, Turkey

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Families pose by a Christmas tree on Bondi Beach on December 25, 2018Image source, Getty Images
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Families at Sydney's Bondi Beach celebrated in the middle of the southern hemisphere's summer

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A Christian expatriate community attends a mass at Santa Maria Church in Dubai, United Arab EmiratesImage source, Reuters
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A Christian community attended a Mass at Santa Maria Church in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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A priest prepares for a Christmas Eve mass for "yellow vests" protesters near a roundabout in Somain, northern FranceImage source, AFP/Getty Images
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In France, so-called "yellow vests" protesters held a service at a roundabout in the northern town of Somain

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All photographs belong to the copyright holders as marked.