Global observances blended solemn prayers with bold declarations, as leaders invoked hope amid strife, from Vatican halls to war-torn streets, underscoring the holiday’s enduring call for humanity.
President Donald Trump fired off a striking Truth Social greeting—”Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists”—hours after U.S. airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria, framing the season as a frontline against extremism.
Pontiff’s Plea and Wartime Endurance
Pope Leo XIV anchored Vatican midnight Mass with fervent appeals for ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, urging global solidarity as pilgrims filled St. Peter’s Square under twinkling lights and nativity glow.
Ukraine marked its fourth wartime Christmas on December 25 with defiant resilience, churches sheltering families amid blackouts, blending hymns with tributes to fallen soldiers in a poignant stand for faith and freedom.
Universal Threads of Joy and Reflection
From Bethlehem’s ancient birthplace thronged by pilgrims to Sydney’s harbor fireworks, celebrations wove light into darkness, reminding billions of compassion’s triumph over division in diverse corners of the earth.
