VATICAN CITY: Hundreds of millions across the world celebrated pared-down Christmas festivities on Friday due to coronavirus restrictions, as Pope France appealed for people to show fraternity.
Saturday, 26 Dec 2020 07:52 AM MYT
Pastors wearing face masks sit among empty benches during an online Christmas service at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul. ― AFP pic
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on news you need to know.
ROME, Dec 26 ― Christmas festivities began yesterday, with hundreds of millions across the world under coronavirus restrictions celebrating a pared-down version of a holiday typically marked by travel and large gatherings.
The battle to halt the pandemic, which has claimed more than 1.7 million lives, is far from over despite the launching of mass vaccine campaigns that offer the promise of an eventual return to normalcy.
Christmas Celebrated Under Pandemic s Shadow By Catherine Marciano with AFP bureaus
12/25/20 AT 12:05 PM
Hundreds of millions across the world celebrated pared-down Christmas festivities on Friday due to coronavirus restrictions, as Pope Francis called for vaccines for everyone, describing them as glimmers of hope in this period of darkness and uncertainty .
Like so many across the globe, the pope was forced to break with normal Christmas tradition, holding his annual Urbi et Orbi speech by video from the apostolic palace, to prevent a crowd from gathering in St Peter s Square. I call on everyone, on leaders of states, on businesses, on international organisations, to promote cooperation and not competition, to find a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially the most vulnerable and most in need in all regions of the planet, he said.