Across the world, Christians have begun marking Christmas with services, with Pope Francis holding midnight mass at the Vatican.

In the holy city of Bethlehem, the West Bank town where it is believed that Jesus was born, events have been overshadowed by recent violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

"There's lights, there's carols, but there's an underlying sense of tension," one pilgrim to Bethlehem, Briton Paul Haines, told Associated Press news agency.

Bethlehem

An Armenian priest prays during Mass in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, accepted by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ

Nigerian pilgrims pray inside inside the Grotto, where Christians believe Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus

Bethlehem has been the scene of violent clashes in late 2015

Vatican City

Pope Francis said Christmas was the time to "once more discover who we are"

Beijing

A cross-bearer prepares to enter Beijing's Catholic Church for Mass

The US and British embassies in China had issued a warning about a terror threat in Beijing

Young Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve Mass in China's capital

Iraq

Hundreds attended Mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation in central Baghdad

Christians in Iraq have faced persecution by the so-called Islamic State

Indonesia

Thousands of people held candles at a service in the city of Surabaya

Indonesia was one of the first countries to mark Christmas Day