Christmas Eve services have been held across France amid tight security following last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris.
About 800 people attended a mass that lasted for 2 hours at the Saint-Germain-des-Pres church in Paris.
They prayed for peace and sang hymns during the solemn ceremony at the church that was built in the 6th century.
One of them lamented that this year was full of terrible incidents, and people are praying that there won’t be any more killing in the world.
Another person expressed hope that next year will be free of conflicts and people can spend peaceful days with their families.
French authorities have stepped up security over the Christmas period.
People attending the mass had their belongings checked at the entrance of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres church. Soldiers were deployed around the building.
French media said 10,000 soldiers and 50,000 police officers had been mobilized to guard about 50,000 churches across the nation on Thursday and Friday.
ที่มา : NHK WORLD News Dec. 25, 2015 – Updated 09:44 UTC+7
Link : http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151225_15.html