- Tourists packed Manger Square where the Church of the Nativity allegedly 'sits on the spot where Jesus was born'
- The number of visitors to Bethlehem at Christmas has been growing in recent years after a period of relative calm in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Monsignor Fuad Twal, has called for a solution to the decades-old conflict
Thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world packed Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations, bringing warm holiday cheer to the biblical birthplace of Jesus on a cool, clear night.
The heavy turnout, the highest in years, helped lift spirits in the West Bank town as leaders expressed hope that the coming year would finally bring the Palestinians an independent state of their own.
'The message of Christmas is a message of peace, love and brotherhood. We have to be brothers with each other,' said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the senior Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, as he arrived in town.
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Palestinian Fouad Twal, pictured centre, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and serving as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, serves a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Church of Nativity, in Bethlehem, as thousands of pilgrims made their way to the sacred site believed to be the birthplace of Jesus
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, leads the midnight Christmas mass at the Church of Nativity
Midnight prayers: Foud Twal, centre, the Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land, leads the Christmas Midnight Mass in Saint Catherine's Church at the Church of the Nativity
Members of the clergy attend the Christmas midnight mass led by Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Church of St. Catherine, which is connected to the Church of Nativity
A view of Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity as people father for Christmas eve celebrations in Bethlehem
Marching bands and scout troops performed for the visitors in the streets, and on a stage next to the tree.
Will Green of New York City, along with his wife, Debbie, and their two-year-old daughter Daphne were among the crowds, and he said being in Bethlehem for Christmas was a dream come true.
'All the stories that we grew up with. It's here. It's part of our life. We heard them in the family, school and church. This is the birthplace,' he said.
Palestinian dignitaries greeted Mr Twal at the entrance of Bethlehem. His motorcade crawled through the town's narrow streets as he stopped to shake hands and greet the throngs of visitors.
It took him nearly 90 minutes to make the short trip to celebrate Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity compound.
Getting in the Christmas spirit: Tourists take part in Christmas celebrations at Manger Square on Christmas Eve
A Palestinian vendor sells balloons to visitors at Manger Square, near the Church of Nativity, on Christmas Eve
Thousands flocked to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas such as the hundreds of tourists pictured here in Manger Square
Girls wearing traditional Palestinian costumes take part in a Christmas procession at Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem
Celebrations: A performer entertains children with a giant Santa Claus puppet at a Christmas parade in Manger Square
Musical: A Palestinian marching band performs during a Christmas procession at Manger Square
Hundreds of people packed the compound for the service. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the EU's foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh were among the dignitaries in attendance.
In his homily, Mr Twal addressed Mr Abbas, telling the president he prays for a 'just and equitable solution' for the Palestinians.
Mr Twal, himself a Palestinian, also expressed sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians, particularly families with relatives imprisoned by Israel or those who have suffered as a result of the conflict with Israel.
'The world is living through a long night of wars, destruction, fear, hate, racism and, at the present time, cold and snow,' he said.
Lamenting strife in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, he also urged worshippers 'not to forget our own problems here: the prisoners and their families who hope for their release, the poor who have lost their land and their homes demolished, families waiting to be reunited, those out of work and all who suffer from the economic crisis'.
Horse-mounted Israeli police officers escort Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal as he is driven from Jerusalem to attend Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem
A priest holds a cross as he awaits the arrival of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, outside the Church of Nativity
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center, arrives to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, second left, is escorted by Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, left, as he waves to waiting crowds
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal kisses a cross before entering the Church of Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus
Nuns follow the service led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal as Christians gather for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal sprinkles holy water outside the Church of the Nativity
But he called on people not to despair: 'We are invited to be optimistic and to renew our faith that this land, home of the three monotheistic religions, will one day become a haven of peace for all people.'
The number of visitors to Bethlehem remained below the record levels of the late 1990s, when Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts were at their height.
Following a Palestinian uprising that began in 2000, the numbers plunged. But thanks to a period of relative calm, they have been steadily climbing in recent years -- and got an extra push this year thanks to the resumption of peace talks.
'Our message is a message of justice and peace,' said Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maayah. 'We Palestinians are seeking peace and we deserve to have peace and our children deserve to live in peace.'
He said the number of visitors to Bethlehem was expected to jump by about 14 per cent from last year.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal leads the service at the Church of the Nativity as thousands of Palestinians and tourists flocked into the West Bank city of Bethlehem to mark Christmas in the 'little town' where many believe Jesus Christ was born
A Greek Orthodox priest walks inside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem
Peace to pray: A visitor prays next to burning candles in the Church of the Nativity
Christian worshippers pray inside inside the Grotto, where Christians believe Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus
Nigerian pilgrims stand inside inside the Grotto during Christmas celebrations at the Church of the Nativity
A spokesman said 10,000 foreign visitors had entered town by the early evening, slightly higher than last year. Israel's Tourism Ministry, which co-ordinates the visits with the Palestinians, said the number could reach 25,000 during the holiday season.
Despite the Christmas cheer, Middle East politics loomed in the background. Few Palestinians seem to think the current round of peace talks will bear fruit.
US Secretary of State John Kerry relaunched the negotiations last summer, but there have been no signs of progress.
Israel carried out a series of airstrikes and other attacks yesterday in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the fatal shooting of an Israeli civilian who had been working along the border.
The fighting, which left a three-year-old Palestinian girl dead, was the heaviest in more than a year.
Palestinian children dressed up as Santa Claus pose for a photograph at Manger Square
A Palestinian youth dressed as Santa Claus holds balloons at Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity
Spectacle: Christian nuns watch a Christmas celebration in Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity
A member of a Palestinian marching band blows a bagpipe during the Christmas procession
Christmas also serves as a reminder of the dwindling numbers of Christians who live in the Holy Land.
Over the decades, tens of thousands of Christians have left, fleeing violence or in search of better opportunities overseas. Christians now make up a tiny percentage of the population.
Bethlehem is now only one-third Christian, with most residents Muslim. In an annual gesture, Israel permitted some 500 members of Gaza's small Christian community to leave the Hamas-ruled territory and cross through Israel to attend the celebrations in Bethlehem.
But for one night at least, residents and visitors brushed aside their troubles to celebrate the holiday.
Nick Parker, a student from Georgia Tech University in the US, said he was enjoying the food and making friends with local residents and fellow travellers.
'It's special to be here where Jesus was born,' he said. 'It's a special opportunity, once in a lifetime.'
....while Christmas kicks off elsewhere in the world
Festive celebrations were kicking off around the world today.Worshippers poured in to final dawn masses in their hundreds at Palo Cathedral Church in the Philippines where homes remain ravaged by the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
A group prayer is led outside the cathedral by a preacher in front of priests kneeling yards away from a life size nativity scene.
NATO troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) pose for pictures during Christmas celebrations at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul
US soldiers and service members with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) attend a religious ceremony on Christmas Eve at Bagram military base in Kabul, Afghanistan
US soldiers hold candles as they attend a religious ceremony on Christmas Eve at a US military base in Kabul
NATO troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) pray during a Christmas Eve mass at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, on Christmas morning
Those who survived the disaster defiantly celebrated Christmas in their ruined communities, where hogs were roasted and churches filled to overflowing.
'Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we have lost our home,' 63-year-old Ellen Miano said in Tacloban, which bore the brunt of the storm.
A preacher leads prayers during a final dawn mass on Christmas eve at Palo Cathedral church in Leyte province in the Philippines
Typhoon survivors gather during final dawn mass at Palo Cathedral church in Palo, Leyte province in the Philippines
Survivors in the Tacloban region of the Philippines lit candles to pay tribute to those who were killed as the typhoon destroyed parts of the country
A young girl laces a candle as relatives visit the grave of a loved one who was killed during Typhoon Haiyan at a flooded mass grave on Christmas Eve
Only one per cent of the 150million strong population in Bangladesh is thought to be Christian, with the religion having been introduced to the country in the late 16th century.
It is thought Portuguese traders and missionaries spread the Christian faith among people in the Indian subcontinent, with many moving to Dhaka in the early 17th century.
Celebrations began in Mumbai, India, too where the majority of the population is comprised of Hindu and Muslim people.
A woman lights a candle in Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul on Christmas Eve December 24
A nurse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, decorates the St Marys Cathedral on Christmas Eve where 90 per cent of the population are Muslim
A display of Christmas lights is lit up in Mumbai, India. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the country's population, a small proportion celebrate Christmas
Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organize a Santa Claus boat trip as
people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and
well-wishes.
The city near Santiago is one of Chile's most important sea ports, with many festivals and celebrations adopting nautical themes.
Iconic Christmas images lit up the Sydney skies in Australia this evening, with huge illustrations of nativity scenes projected on to a church in the city centre.
Young men and boys donned Father Christmas costumes and decorated cars and vans with festive felt to parade through the streets of Jiyeh in southern Beirut, while children on a beach in India pose in front of a huge sand sculpture of Jesus Christ by artist Sudarshan Pattnaik.
The city near Santiago is one of Chile's most important sea ports, with many festivals and celebrations adopting nautical themes.
Iconic Christmas images lit up the Sydney skies in Australia this evening, with huge illustrations of nativity scenes projected on to a church in the city centre.
Young men and boys donned Father Christmas costumes and decorated cars and vans with festive felt to parade through the streets of Jiyeh in southern Beirut, while children on a beach in India pose in front of a huge sand sculpture of Jesus Christ by artist Sudarshan Pattnaik.
Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa costume, waves to people from a boat with fishermen along the coast of Valpraiso city near Santiago
St Marys Cathedral in Sydney is lit up on Christmas eve with projected images of the story of the birth of Christ. Crowds gathered to witness the spectacle this evening
A woman prays during a Christmas Eve mass service at the official Catholic church South Cathedral in Beijing, China
Lebanese Christians dress up as Santa and decorate their cars to celebrate the birth of Christ in a convoy in the Jiyeh village in southern Beirut
Children dressed as Father Christmas pose in front of a huge sand sculpture of Jesus Christ on a beach in Puri in the eastern Indian state of Odisha
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