(RNS) — Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo selection includes the kidnapping of Nigerian schoolboys by Boko Haram, a variety of nativity scenes, and more.
A group of schoolboys gather Friday Dec. 18, 2020 in Katsina, Nigeria, following their release after being kidnapped last week. More than 300 boys kidnapped last week in an attack on their school in northwest Nigeria arrived in the capital of Katsina state to celebrate their release. The boys were abducted last week from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in Kankara in Katsina state village. Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying they attacked the school because it believes Western education is un-Islamic, factional leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A group of schoolboys are escorted by Nigerian military and officials, Friday Dec. 18, 2020 in Katsina, Nigeria, following their release after they were kidnapped last week. Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction. saying they attacked the school because it believes Western education is un-Islamic, factional leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A group of schoolboys are escorted by Nigerian military and officials, Friday Dec. 18, 2020 in Katsina, Nigeria. following their release after they were kidnapped last week. Nigeria’s Boko Haram jihadist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying they attacked the school because it believes Western education is un-Islamic, factional leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video earlier this week. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A person lights candles during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
A Nepalese woman scatters grain during Bala Chaturdashi festival at the Pashupatinath temple premises in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. Bala Chaturdashi is celebrated in memory of departed family members by lighting oil lamps and scattering seven types of grain along a prescribed route. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepalese Hindu devotees light oil lamps during the Bala Chaturdasi festival on the banks of Bagmati river, near Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Bala Chaturdashi is celebrated in memory of departed family members by lighting oil lamps and scattering seven types of grain along a prescribed route. Although temples were closed for public, a small number of devotees offered their prayers on the Pashupatinath temple premises. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Faithful stop by the nativity scene as they wait for the start of Pope Francis’ Angelus noon prayer in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A variety of nativity scenes are displayed during the opening of the exhibition “100 Nativities” under Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. The exhibition will run until Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A vendor sells nativity figurines in a Christmas market in Ecatepec, Mexico State, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Mexico has been posting record increases in coronavirus cases in December, and the capital’s hospitals are nearing capacity. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A man displays Christmas souvenirs at a shop ahead of Christmas in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Although Hindus and Muslims comprise a majority of the population in India, Christmas is a national holiday celebrated with much fanfare. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
