Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) congratulates Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land after attending a Christmas midnight mass at Saint Catherine's Church, in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally recognized by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on Tuesday, December 25, 2018. (Photo by Nasser Nasser / POOL / AFP)
BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories: Pilgrims from across the world gathered in Bethlehem on Monday for Christmas Eve, queueing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born and taking in a festive parade.