the world has changed and many people's faith has been shaken and coronavirus was very much at the heart of the pope's christmas message. he called on people to care for and offer generosity to the victims of the pandemic. he also called on world leaders to cooperate, so that there should be access to vaccines for all countries. he said we cannot erect walls, perhaps a message to the donald trump administration there. and interesting that he singled out, among the victims, women who had suffered from domestic violence during months of lockdown. he talked about how his thoughts were for families who could not come together and those forced to remain at home, so the pandemic very much at the centre of this urbi et orbi message. he also then called for peace in the world's hotspots, from nagorno—karabakh to yemen, libya to mozambique, but this is a year in which the world

as a whole has been fighting a war and the pope's message was to people to arm themselves with compassion. some good news now, in this most difficult of years — the first concert to be held inside notre dame cathedral in paris since it was severely damaged by a fire last year. there was no audience and the socially—distanced singers wore hard hats and boiler suits because the cathedral is still a building site. as well as classical pieces, they gave a heart warming rendition ofjingle bells. # oh, what fun it is to ride in a one—horse open sleigh. #jingle bells, jingle bells. # jingle all the way. # oh, what fun it is to ride in a one—horse open. #jingling, jingling, jingling, jingling. # open sleigh — hey!#

snow has fallen in parts of eastern england, with the met office declaring it officially a white christmas in the uk. mark in hessle, near hull, was up bright and early and sent us this picture. one of our weather watchers. this is bbc news. what a year it's been for captain sir tom moore, the former british army officer and centenarian, known for his achievements raising tens of millions of pounds for charity in the run—up to his 100th birthday during the covid—19 pandemic. john maguire has been to meet him and find out about his christmas plans. as well as his plans well beyond that. it's been a year like no otherfor all of us. but for captain sir tom moore, 2020 has seen him catapulted

from his back garden to worldwide adoration, and to a specially convened ceremony where he was knighted by her majesty the queen. december‘s always a time to look forward, but also back to boyhood christmases during the 1920s. you got up at six o'clock in the morning to see what father christmas had left overnight. when we were small boys, or small children, we didn't get a stocking, we got a pillowcase. you knew there'd be an orange at the bottom of it somewhere. but not a lump of coal? no! and later, as a young officer in the british army during the second world war. all the officers gave the all the other ranks their christmas lunch. we served them their christmas lunch. and that was a happy occasion, with a little a bit of relaxation

and some drink, which hadn't been readily available for some time. but that was a very good day. one of the main objectives of the captain tom foundation is to tackle loneliness, which can be especially cruel at christmas. for people who don't have a family who can come and knock on the door, it must be a very lonely time. and, of course, how are they going to have a christmas lunch if there's only one of you? so i do hope that everyone will have more than one person to have the christmas lunch. but you would, of course, expect some of his famous optimism. we've always had all the family around us, and we've all had a lovely christmas lunch with turkey and all the little

bits that go with it. and that's always been a joy for the parents, and for the children. this year, of course, with things as they are, things can't be quite the same for everyone, but things will get better and next year we'll be all right. he's spending the festive season not walking, but hopefully relaxing, having been invited to barbados. i had a bucket list, and one of the items on that list was barbados. and this is going to come through. barbados has very kindly taken barbados off my bucket list. and what's next on that — do we know? what's the next plan on your bucket list? the next one is on the route 66 across america with bentley. well, let's hope you get

that one soon as well. so as he works his way down the list, let's hope captain sir tom gets his kicks in the new year. john maguire, bbc news, bedfordshire. you really wouldn't bet against him, would you? this christmas is, of course, one like no other, with many families unable to be together because of the global pandemic. so how have we adapted our plans? judith moritz has been finding out. for so many, covid means christmas behind closed doors. bowie gladwell was born during the pandemic. he has a heart condition and his grandparents are vulnerable. merry christmas! so even though rules mean the family could get together today, they have chosen to keep it virtual and open their presents via video call. there was a point where we were thinking about having

parents up on christmas day, but following the recent raise, you know, raising cases, and just the general uncertainty, we have decided to avoid it this year. how are you, raymond and olwen? 0k, thank you. happy christmas. coronavirus has changed christmas for church goers too. the congregation of st james evangelical church in carlisle met on zoom instead of in person, though the sense of community was no less heartfelt. at st mary's, near congleton in cheshire, the church is big and draughty enough for everyone to space out. congregants had to book a pew, one per household bubble, to ensure social distancing. well, i think it's wonderful. i think the place has been going for a thousand years now, so we couldn't let it down and miss a christmas, we had to find a way. i think it is amazing this can be

so safe to come and allow the older generation and younger generation to be part of each other. only the choir was allowed to sing. people have had to make special arrangements to make the church look beautiful, just everything's happened but in a different way. last christmas no—one could have imagined the way this year's festival would look or they would be praying for next year's celebrations to be back to normal. the queen has reflected on the hardships of the coronavirus pandemic in her christmas speech, as she and the duke of edinburgh spend the day apart from their family. let's have a listen to her full speech. band plays: god save the queen.

every year, we herald the coming of christmas by turning on the lights. and light does more than create a festive mood. light brings hope. for christians, jesus is "the light of the world", but we can't celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. people of all faiths have been unable to gather as they would wish

for their festivals, such as passover, easter, eid, and vaisakhi. but we need life to go on. last month, fireworks lit up the sky around windsor as hindus, sikhs and jains celebrated diwali, the festival of lights, providing joyous moments of hope and unity despite social distancing. remarkably, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has in many ways brought us closer. across the commonwealth, my family and i have been inspired by stories of people volunteering in their communities, helping those in need. in the united kingdom, and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and i'm so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit.

to our young people in particular, i say thank you for the part you have played. this year, we celebrated international nurses‘ day on the 200th anniversary of the birth of florence nightingale. as with other nursing pioneers like mary seacole, florence nightingale shone a lamp of hope across the world. today, our front—line services still shine that lamp for us, supported by the amazing achievements of modern science, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. we continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers, and draw comfort that even on the darkest nights, there is hope in the new dawn. jesus touched on this with the parable of the good samaritan. the man who is robbed and left at the roadside is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture. this wonderful story of kindness

is still as relevant today. good samaritans have emerged across society, showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender, race and background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of god. the teachings of christ have served as my inner light, as has the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship. bagpipes play in november, we commemorated another hero... ..though nobody knows his name. the tomb of the unknown warrior isn't a large memorial, but everyone entering westminster abbey has to walk around his resting place, honouring this unnamed combatant of the first world war, a symbol of selfless duty and ultimate sacrifice.

the unknown warrior was not exceptional. that's the point. he represents millions like him who, throughout our history, have put the lives of others above their own, and will be doing so today. for me, this is a source of enduring hope in difficult and unpredictable times. of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness, some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family members distanced for safety, when all they'd really want for christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand. if you are among them, you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers. the bible tells how a star appeared in the sky, its light guiding the shepherds

and wise men to the scene ofjesus's birth. let the light of christmas, the spirit of selflessness, love, and above all hope, guide us in the times ahead. it is in that spirit that i wish you a very happy christmas. # joy to the world # the lord is come! # let earth receive her king! # let ev‘ry heart prepare him room # and heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing # and heaven, and heaven and nature sing # joy to the world

# the saviour reigns # let men their songs employ # while fields and floods # rocks, hills and plains # repeat the sounding joy repeat the sounding joy # repeat, repeat, the sounding joy # he rules the world # with truth and grace # and makes the nations prove # the glories of his righteousness # and wonders of his love and wonders of his love # and wonders, and wonders of his love.#