Hundreds attend Christmas mass in Bethlehem

Hundreds of Palestinians and pilgrims have gathered to celebrate Christmas Day Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The Vatican's envoy to the Holy Land said he hoped peace was possible.

Papal nuncio Antonio Franco said "the message of Jesus (is) peace in the heart, joy and love for each other... it's possible".

Franco spoke as he entered the Church of St Catherine on Friday, where most of the worshippers were Palestinian locals, and the mass was celebrated in Arabic. - Sapa-AP