Photos: Christmas around the world

Catholics around the world celebrated this unusual Christmas despite the coronavirus pandemic. View the slideshow to see scenes from this year’s celebrations.

An image telling part of the Nativity story is reflected on the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 17, 2020. The presentation was part of a Luxmuralis light and sound show set to run through Dec. 19. (CNS photo/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit)
Nativity Church in Midland Park, N.J., held its outdoor Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 5, 2020. (CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Newark)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church's is seen outside the church in Ridgewood, N.J. Parishioners watched the Dec. 11, 2020, tree lighting from inside the church and from their homes via a livestream. (CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Newark)
A Christmas tree is seen at Palace Square in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dec. 22, 2020. (CNS photo/Anton Vaganov, Reuters)
Nuns and a man wearing protective masks pray in the grotto of the Church of the Nativity on Christmas morning in Bethlehem, West Bank. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill)
Members of the Missionaries of Charity and others pray during Mass in the Church of the Nativity on Christmas morning in Bethlehem, West Bank. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill)
A nun walks in the Church of the Nativity on Christmas morning in Bethlehem, West Bank. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill)
A man in Jerusalem's Old City wears a Santa Claus costume and rides a camel after handing out Christmas trees to people during the annual distribution of the trees Dec. 22, 2020. (CNS photo/Ammar Awad, Reuters)
A child in Galway, Ireland, is nuzzled by a donkey wearing a Santa hat Dec. 22, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (CNS photo/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters)
A few people gather outside St. Peter's Square during the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy's 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Francis kisses a figurine of the baby Jesus as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy's 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis visits a Marian image as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy's 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy's 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis walks toward a figurine of the baby Jesus as he celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy's 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)