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
BBC Presentational white space
EPA A girl attends a Christmas Eve mass in Cairo, EgyptEPA
In Egypt, this little girl listened attentively during a church service in Cairo
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space
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
BBC Presentational white space

All photographs belong to the copyright holders as marked.