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In pictures: World celebrates Christmas

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.

AFP/Getty Images 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 VaticanAFP/Getty Images
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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EPA A girl attends a Christmas Eve mass in Cairo, EgyptEPA
In Egypt, this little girl listened attentively during a church service in Cairo
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AFP People attending a Christmas Eve event at a church in Fuyang, China's eastern Anhui provinceAFP
Celebrations were held at this church in Fuyang, China's eastern Anhui province
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EPA Indian Christians taking part in Christmas prayers at the Infant Jesus church in Bangalore, IndiaEPA
Indian Christians took part in prayers at the Infant Jesus Church in Bangalore
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Reuters A woman prays during a Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in LahorReuters
This woman prayed during a Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Pakistani city of Lahore
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EPA Thai and foreign Catholic church goers touch the baby Jesus doll in the Nativity scene during Christmas Day Mass at a church in BangkokEPA
People queued at this church in Bangkok to touch the baby Jesus doll in its Nativity scene
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Reuters An altar boys holds a cross before a mass at the Notre Dame de Kinshasa cathedral in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of CongoReuters
These altar boys played a key role during celebrations in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Reuters 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, MexicoReuters
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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AFP Indonesian Christians attending mass on Christmas Eve at a stadium in Surabaya, the country"s second largest cityAFP
A Mass on Christmas Eve was held at a stadium in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city
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AFP Members of a swimming club take their traditional Christmas bath at the Orankesee lake in BerlinAFP
Members of a Berlin swimming club took their traditional Christmas bath at the city's Orankesee lake
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EPA A couple kiss during a Christmas Eve ceremony at St Antuan Church in Istanbul, TurkeyEPA
Meanwhile, this couple kissed by a Christmas tree in Istanbul, Turkey
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Getty Images Families pose by a Christmas tree on Bondi Beach on December 25, 2018Getty Images
Families at Sydney's Bondi Beach celebrated in the middle of the southern hemisphere's summer
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Reuters A Christian expatriate community attends a mass at Santa Maria Church in Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters
A Christian community attended a Mass at Santa Maria Church in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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AFP/Getty Images A priest prepares for a Christmas Eve mass for "yellow vests" protesters near a roundabout in Somain, northern FranceAFP/Getty Images
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.