Best photos of December 25: Christmas Eve at Vatican to hot-air balloons in Nepal

  • Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis led a special ceremony launching Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome. AFP
    Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis led a special ceremony launching Jubilee 2025, a year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome. AFP
  • A cyclist dressed as Santa Claus rides along a road on Christmas Day, in New Delhi. AFP
    A cyclist dressed as Santa Claus rides along a road on Christmas Day, in New Delhi. AFP
  • A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
    A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
  • A Christmas Eve meal for the needy organised by a charity in Poznan, Poland. EPA
    A Christmas Eve meal for the needy organised by a charity in Poznan, Poland. EPA
  • People walk along the seasonally decorated Palace Square in St Petersburg. Russians are preparing to celebrate New Year's Eve on 31 December, and Christmas, which is observed on January 7, according to the Russian Orthodox Julian calendar. EPA
    People walk along the seasonally decorated Palace Square in St Petersburg. Russians are preparing to celebrate New Year's Eve on 31 December, and Christmas, which is observed on January 7, according to the Russian Orthodox Julian calendar. EPA
  • Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
    Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
  • Emergency workers at the site where an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed, near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Reuters
    Emergency workers at the site where an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed, near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Reuters
  • Hot-air balloons ascend during an international festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP
    Hot-air balloons ascend during an international festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP