pointing to ongoing turmoil in syria, yemen and iraq, pope francis said the world is becoming desensitised to suffering. the pontiff called for more dialogue and warned against a tendency to withdraw. translation: in this time | of pandemic, we have come to realise this even more. our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried. there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and to do things together. on the international level, too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking short cuts. in the west bank city of bethlehem, where christians believejesus was born, the numbers were also lower than usual, as israel closed its borders forforeigners
even main traditional christmas events such as the pope s urbi et 0rbi message were scaled back, with fewer visitors allowed in, pointing to ongoing turmoil in syria, yemen and iraq, pope francis said the world is becoming desensitised to suffering. the pontiff called for more dialogue and warned against a tendency to withdraw. translation: in this time | of pandemic, we have come to realise this even more. 0ur capacity for social relationships is sorely tried. there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and to do things together. 0n the international level, too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking short cuts. in the west bank city of bethlehem, where christians believejesus
relationships is sorely tried. there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and to do things together. 0n the international level, too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking short cuts. in the west bank city of bethlehem, where christians believejesus was born, the numbers were also lower than usual, as israel closed its borders forforeigners in an effort to rein in the infections. the latin patriarch ofjerusalem led prayers at the church of the nativity s ancient prayer hall. the leader of the anglican church, the archbishop of canterbury, praised the work of volunteers helping refugees in
is the year of her platinum jubilee. the queen will certainly want to be involved in thejubilee as fully as possible, and there will be another event of special significance to her a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke of edinburgh, which, it has been announced, will take place at westminster abbey in the spring. nicholas witchell, bbc news. midnight mass celebrations have benn taking place in the west bank city of bethlehem. the annual procession is being led by the head of the roman catholic church in the region. international tourists have been mainly kept away during the pandemic in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. the re introduction of covid measures have left local businesses disappointed. the procession is being held in the city where christians revere as the birthplace ofjesus christ.
christmas eve celebrations are under way in the west bank city of bethlehem, where hoteliers hoping for an influx of tourists have been disappointed by the renewed introduction of anti covid measures. israel s borders have been closed to international travellers because of the pandemic and only a small number of people attended the procession in the city revered as the birthplace ofjesus. tom bateman sent this report. in manger square, they wait for the biggest night of the year. a christmas procession that will follow the route believed to have been taken by mary and joseph. it s a march of faith. but this season s greetings are mainly between the locals. the scout bands are a fixture of christmas in manger square and you can feel the energy. but what is missing are the international visitors and pilgrims that would usually be thronging the square here, and that is a devastating