Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in Bethlehem and else accesswdun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from accesswdun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pope Francis celebrates socially-distanced Christmas Eve Mass as pandemic puts damper on holiday
Updated on: December 24, 2020 / 3:41 PM / AP Pope offers blessing at Christmas Eve Mass
On Christmas Eve in Italy, church bells rang earlier than usual. The Italian government s 10 p.m. curfew prompted pastors to move up services, with Midnight Mass starting Thursday evening in some churches as early as a couple hours after dark.
Pope Francis, who has said people must obey civil authorities measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, fell in line. This year, the Christmas vigil Mass in St. Peter s Basilica was moved up from 9:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
2020/12/24 20:01 A Palestinian National security unit is deployed in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be . A Palestinian National security unit is deployed in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, ahead of Christmas, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) Italian Carabinieri officers check vehicles in front of St. Peter s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. Italians are easing into a holid. Italian Carabinieri officers check vehicles in front of St. Peter s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. Italians are easing into a holiday season full of restrictions, and already are barred from traveling to other regions except for valid reasons like work or health. Starting Christmas eve, travel beyond city
Josef Federman And Jalal Hassan
People wearing masks for protection against COVID-19 attend a Christmas Eve Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the capital Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Kemal Softic) December 24, 2020 - 6:46 PM
BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territory - Bethlehem on Thursday ushered in Christmas Eve with a stream of joyous marching bands and the triumphant arrival of the top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, but few people were there to greet them as the coronavirus pandemic and a strict lockdown dampened celebrations in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
Similar subdued scenes were repeated across the world as the festive family gatherings and packed prayers that typically mark the holiday were scaled back or cancelled altogether.
Bethlehem on Thursday ushered in Christmas Eve with a stream of joyous marching bands and the triumphant arrival of the top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, but few people were there to greet the…