In_pictures In pictures: Christmas around the world

From Australia to the Americas, services and events have been taking place to mark one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. Here are some of the best images from around the world.

In_pictures Buenos Aires, Argentina

The exiled former President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, has a Christmas breakfast with members of the Bolivian community of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.

In_pictures Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Catholic children dressed up as angels at St Anthony’s Church. On Easter Sunday, the church was the first of three to be targeted by suicide bombers – 54 people were killed here, and more than 300 across the country.

In_pictures Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A worshipper lights a candle at St Joseph’s Cathedral. The UAE has a vibrant Catholic community, with Filipinos making up more than 5% of the population.

In_pictures Hanoi, Vietnam

A woman takes a selfie outside the 19th Century St Joseph’s Cathedral in Vietnam’s capital.

In_pictures Paris, France

Bishop Philippe Marsset leads a midnight Mass at the Saint Germain l’Auxerrois church. For the first time in more than 200 years, Christmas Mass was not held in Notre-Dame cathedral after the devastating fire there in April.

In_pictures Peshawar, Pakistan

Worshippers attend prayers at Peshawar’s St Johns Cathedral Church. Christians make up about 1.6% of Pakistan’s population and, like other religious minorities in Muslim-majority Pakistan, have been the target of escalating attacks in recent years.

In_pictures Amritsar, India

Christian devotees in Amritsar, Punjab offered their prayers in a Christmas day service at St Paul Church.

In_pictures Mombasa, Kenya

Mass is held at midnight in the Fort Jesus area.

In_pictures Khartoum, Sudan

Christmas Mass is celebrated at the St Matthew’s Cathedral Church in the Sudanese capital.

In_pictures Los Angeles, California