A pandemic Christmas: Churches shut, borders complicated

ROME (AP) — Curfews, quarantines and even border closings complicated Christmas celebrations Friday for countless people around the globe, but ingenuity, determination, and imagination helped keep the day special for many.

Pope Francis delivered his Christmas blessing from inside the Vatican, breaking with his traditional speech from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square.

But tourism in Italy has virtually vanished in the pandemic and the government’s coronavirus restrictions for the holidays foiled any plans by locals to flock to the square.

Citing a cause for optimism amid the pandemic’s bleakness, Francis said the invention of COVID-19 vaccines shines “lights of hope” on the world.

In a passionate appeal to leaders, businesses, and international organisations, he said they must ensure that the most vulnerable and needy in the pandemic be first in line to receive the vaccines.

Bells rang out around Bethlehem on Friday as the traditional birthplace of Jesus celebrated Christmas Day.

But the closure of Israel’s international airport to foreign tourists, along with Palestinian restrictions banning intercity travel in the areas they administer in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, kept visitors away.

In Beijing, official churches abruptly cancelled Mass on Christmas Day in a last-minute move, after China’s capital was put on high alert following the confirmation of two confirmed COVID-19 cases last week, and two new asymptomatic cases were reported on Friday.

One of several notices was posted at Beijing’s St. Josephs’ Church, which was built originally by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century.

Border crossing closures kept thousands of migrants from economically devastated Venezuela who live in Colombia from going home for Christmas.

Colombia’s government shut down the crossings in a bid to slow down the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Those trying to return home for the holidays this year had to turn to smugglers.

Yakelin Tamaure, a nurse who left Venezuela two years ago, won’t be going home and said there will be no gifts or new clothes for her two children, aged 10 and 15.

Tamaure said that she hasn’t been able to find work as a nurse because she still doesn’t have a Colombia residence permit.

Her parents are still in Venezuela.

“My mother broke her foot and can’t walk properly so I’m worried about her,” said Tamaure.

“I try to send her money, but it's not the same as being there.”

Others successfully crossed borders elsewhere only to find themselves in quarantine.

For their first Christmas since getting married in March, Nattasuda Anusonadisai and Patrick Kaplin are cooped up in quarantine in a Bangkok hotel room.

It wasn’t great fun but they did make sure to get a Christmas tree.

They returned earlier this month from a 4 1/2-month trip to Canada and the United States, making a 32-hour journey from Montreal via Doha.

One condition of entering Thailand is a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Thai citizens can stay at state facilities for free but foreigners like Kaplin, from Canada, must pay to stay at an approved hotel, the option the couple took so they could stay together.

“The hotel was surprised that we ordered a full-sized Christmas tree but didn’t give us too much trouble to bring it in,” said Anusonadisai.

But they hadn’t ordered enough ornaments, so they put items collected on their travels, like an eagle feather, and, of course, masks.

“We will continue this tradition now since it’s nice to see so many personal memories on the tree,” Kaplan said.

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