The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, joined thousands of people celebrating Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, traditionally known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Mr Arafat was guest of honour at a midnight service in the Church of the Nativity, held amid tight security.

In Rome, Pope John Paul held a midnight mass in St.

Peter's Basilica before a congregation of thousands; he said he was already looking forward to opening the millennium celebrations of the Roman Catholic Church in a year's time.

He will be giving his traditional blessing to pilgrims in St.

Peter's Square at midday.

Cubans are celebrating their first official Christmas since the government abolished the holiday thirty years ago, and the Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, has been given permission to broadcast a radio message later today.