More than 1,000 volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Pakistani Christians attend Christmas mass in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, they constitute about 1.6% of Pakistans population. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
Priests and nuns lead displaced children in a dance during a special Christmas Day mass for children, at a monastery ground serving as a camp for the displaced, in Bangui, Central African Republic, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 200,000 people remain displaced in the capital alone, and more than half of those are children. Many of the displaced lack even basic shelter from the elements, while hunger is rampant and insecurity growing in the overcrowded and rudimentary camps. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A man dressed as Santa Claus distributes sweets to children on the occasion of Christmas outside a church in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Although Christians comprise only two percent of the population among a Hindu majority, the holiday is observed across the country as an occasion to celebrate. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Christians celebrate Christmas during a party held at the Dama Rose hotel in Damascus, Syria on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Pope Francis’ Christmas message, delivered on Wednesday in Italian from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, addressed the Syrian conflict: "Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, fueling hatred and vengeance. Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering, and to enable the parties in conflict to put an end to all violence and guarantee access to humanitarian aid. We have seen how powerful prayer is! And I am happy today too, that the followers of different religious confessions are joining us in our prayer for peace in Syria. Let us never lose the courage of prayer! The courage to say: Lord, grant your peace to Syria and to the whole world."(AP Photo)
A Christian man prays during Christmas mass in a church in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Although Christians comprise only two percent of the population among a Hindu majority, the holiday is observed across the country as an occasion to celebrate. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
The women of Saint Afram Syrian Orthodox church’s choir pray during morning Christmas mass in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Syrian and Iraqi Orthodox Christian families attended morning mass of Christmas and pray for peace in their countries. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
Pope Francis delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Pope Francis on Christmas day is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus’ birth, for Syria and Africa as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict. Francis spoke from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica Wednesday to tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans in the square below. He said he was joining in the song of Christmas angels with all those hoping "for a better world," and with those who "care for others, humbly." (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Pope Francis on Christmas day is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus’ birth, for Syria and Africa as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict. Francis spoke from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica Wednesday to tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans in the square below. He said he was joining in the song of Christmas angels with all those hoping "for a better world," and with those who "care for others, humbly." (AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano, ho)
Pope Francis delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Pope Francis on Christmas day is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus’ birth, for Syria and Africa as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict. Francis spoke from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica Wednesday to tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans in the square below. He said he was joining in the song of Christmas angels with all those hoping "for a better world," and with those who "care for others, humbly." (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A U.S. soldier with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) poses for photograph at a religious ceremony on Christmas in Logar province, eastern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. The commander of NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan spent Christmas visiting U.S. troops at bases across the mountainous region to bring them holiday greetings and gifts for a few lucky soldiers.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
An Iraqi Orthodox Christian refugee attends a morning Christmas mass at the Saint Afram Syrian Orthodox Church in Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Syrian and Iraqi Orthodox Christian families attended morning mass of Christmas and pray for peace in their countries. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
Children surround Russian Ded Moroz (Father Frost), who arrived in Moscow Zoo, as a part of a New Year celebrations, in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Russians celebrate Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7.(AP Photo/ Ivan Sekretarev)
Children line up to receive a Christmas gift from volunteers in Tacloban, Philippines, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Mostly, Christmas is a celebration amid deprivation, in tents, makeshift homes and damaged churches in the city devastated by the Nov. 8 typhoon Haiyan. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Shoppers pose for photos with a man in Santa Claus costume on Christmas day at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan)
Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas mass at the Mother Teresa Catholic Church in Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec 25, 2013. Militants on Wednesday launched two separate attacks against Christians in Baghdad, killing more than a dozen people, officials said. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani))
The Rev. Susan W. Springer raises and halves a wafer representing the body of Christ as she presides over a special late night Christmas mass at St. John’s Episcopal Church, just after midnight on Christmas morning, in Boulder, Colo., Wednesday Dec. 25, 2013. Assisting her are the Rev. Ted Howard, left, and the Rev. Jan Dewlen. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
A couple look at the illuminated decoration to celebrate the festival season during Christmas eve in Hong Kong,Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Indian Christians hold candles ahead of Christmas in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A Syrian Orthodox Christian prays in front of the altar at the Saint Afram Syrian Orthodox Church during the midnight Christmas Mass in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees along with Jordanian Christians attend the midnight Mass and pray for peace in their countries. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
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, Tuesday Dec. 24, 2013. The commander of NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan spent Christmas Eve visiting U.S. troops at bases across the mountainous region to bring them holiday greetings and gifts for a few lucky soldiers. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Myanmar Christians pray at Saint Marry Cathedral during the Christmas Mass in Yangon, Myanmar Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
A Palestinian Christian woman, lights candles, in a morning Christmas mass at St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church, in the West Bank village of Burqin near Jenin city, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, carries the baby Jesus during midnight Christmas mass at the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Musa Al-Shaer, Pool)
Palestinian nun Rosaria prepares a Nativity scene at the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Church of Visitation, also known as St. Mary’s Visitation Church, in preparation for Christmas in the northern West Bank village of Zababdeh near Jenin, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, leads the midnight Christmas mass at the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Musa Al-Shaer, Pool)
Around the world, the holidays are in full swing. There are Christmas lights in Hong Kong, midnight Mass in Bethlehem, and even Santa distributing sweets in India.
Pope Francis ushered in his first Christmas as pontiff with a sermon drawing on the theme of humility as he cited Jesus’ humble beginnings as a poor and vulnerable baby. Thousands gathered at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to hear midnight Mass near the site of Jesus’ birth.
Here’s a gallery of images from Christmas celebrations around the world.
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