Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a carefully crafted Christmas Eve message portraying Israel as the safest place for Christians in the Middle East. The polished address highlighted religious freedom and growing Christian communities, but events on the ground in Jerusalem tell a more complicated story. 

From Bethlehem and Gaza to Rome, Kyiv, Tokyo, Mumbai, and beyond, Christmas is being marked across the world with prayers, lights, and resilience. While millions gathered in churches and public squares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, others observed the season under the shadow of war and hardship. From Pope Leo’s Christmas message in the Vatican to frontline celebrations in Ukraine and the return of Christmas services in Gaza after years of silence, here’s a global look at a season of hope, contrast, and survival.