People stand at Manger Square in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank December 17, 2019. Picture taken December 17, 2019. (REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta)

The Christmas spirit was overwhelming at Manger Square, where a 15m Christmas tree had been erected.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was due to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Tuesday morning. He will lead a midnight mass to celebrate Christmas Eve in the Church of the Nativity, said to be built during the 4th century at the site of the cave where Jesus was born.