Queen's Christmas message to focus on faith
Queen Elizabeth II will use her Christmas address to highlight the triumph of good over evil after a string of attacks in 2015 including the terrorist
Dec 25, 2015

LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II will use her Christmas address to highlight the triumph of good over evil after a string of attacks in 2015 including the terrorist attacks in Paris.
In extracts released ahead of her afternoon address, the Queen will quote from the Bible to describe the Christmas period as "a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for".
"It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it','" she will say.
There has been a series of mass casualty attacks around the world this year including in Nigeria, Syria and Iraq.
A total of 130 people were killed in the November 13 terrorist attacks in the French capital, Paris.
The 89-year-old monarch's message will also pay tribute to those who fought during World War II, after commemorations this year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
Each year millions of British families tune into television at 3:00pm (GMT) to watch the Queen's speech, which is as much of a festive tradition there as turkey, crackers and presents.
Pilgrims prepare for Christmas in Middle East amid violence
But in other parts of the world, it is turning out to be a subdued Christmas, especially in the Middle East, against a backdrop of violence in the Holy Land and a growing jihadist threat.
A wave of violence has led to a sharp decline in the number of pilgrims visiting Bethlehem and the rest of the Holy Land this year.
Only a sparse crowd was on hand to welcome the procession ahead of the traditional midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity, built at the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.
Violent protests and a wave of knife, gun and car-ramming attacks since October have killed 129 on the Palestinian side, 19 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.
Still, pilgrims who were at Manger Square in the heart of Bethlehem were proud to have made the trip.
"[It was] important to be here, to react and send a message of peace for Christmas," Italian nun Sister Donatella said, as she walked among a procession of drummers and bagpipe players.
Linaras Oceani, a Christian Indonesian taking selfies, said she was not deterred by travel warnings from authorities in her country.
"God is with me, so all will be well. [I am] privileged, because not everyone has the opportunity to come here," she said.--ABC
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