Russia’s Orthodox Patriarch, marking Christmas, says West trying to smother Russia

Reuters The Patriarch of Russia’s Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday that the Western world despised Russia and its “alternative path of civilised development”. Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate Christmas on 7th January, according to the Julian calendar. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas liturgy at the […]
Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, tapping an Italian nun

Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders. The appointment marks a major step in Francis’ aim to give women more leadership roles in governing the […]
In pictures: Christmas around the world

A gallery of images showing how Christmas was celebrated around the world…
Biden, Trump send different Christmas messages

Washington DC, US Reuters The outgoing and incoming US presidents had different messages for the Christmas holiday on Wednesday, with Democrat Joe Biden urging Americans to reflect and unite, while Republican Donald Trump offered a holiday greeting and then took aim at his political opponents. Biden narrated a video tour of the White House Christmas […]
Syrian Christians attend Christmas Mass for first time since fall of Assad

Damascus, Syria Reuters Syrian Christians attended Christmas Eve services on Tuesday for the first time since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in early December, in an early test of the new Islamist rulers’ pledges to protect the rights of the country’s religious minorities. The service was held amid tight security due to concerns of […]
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world

Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis said the story of Jesus’ birth as a poor carpenter’s son should instil hope that all people can make an impact on the world, as the pontiff on Tuesday led the world’s Roman Catholics into Christmas. Francis, celebrating the 12th Christmas of his pontificate, presided at a solemn Christmas Eve […]
King Charles III to deliver Christmas message from former hospital chapel

London, UK Reuters King Charles will deliver his traditional Christmas Day message from a former hospital chapel, Buckingham Palace said on Monday, in a break from tradition and a nod to the British monarch’s ongoing treatment for cancer. In February, the palace revealed the 76-year-old, who became King in 2022, had been diagnosed with an […]
Grim assessment: In Bethlehem, a Christian pastor says a year of protest for Palestinians shows few gains

JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, speaks with Rev Munther Isaac, pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank…
Postcards: In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there’s now a tiny Christmas tree

LUJAIN JO and HASSAN AMMAR, of Associated Press, report on how a subdued Christmas will be celebrated at the now ruined St George Melkite Catholic Church in southern Lebanon…
Essay: Santa, maybe? Why we have different names for who “hurries down the chimney’ on Christmas

In an article first published on The Conversation, linguist VALERIE M FRIDLAND looks at the origins of the various names for Santa Claus…