Bethlehem Rejoices: Christmas Returns After Gaza War's Shadow

• Bethlehem celebrates its first festive Christmas in over two years, emerging from the shadow of the Gaza war.
• Scouts marched and Manger Square was vibrant with music and crowds, marking a return to joyful traditions.
• Pope Leo XIV, in his first Christmas Mass, called for "24 hours of peace in the whole world."
• Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, led Midnight Mass and noted resilience in war-battered Gaza.
• Festivities also took place in Damascus, Syria, and globally, despite some somber reflections like in Australia.

Why It Matters: Bethlehem celebrates a joyful Christmas, symbolizing hope and resilience after the Gaza war's impact.