Pezeshkian congratulates pope on birth anniversary of Jesus Christ
President meets with families of Iranian Christian martyrs
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a message to Pope Francis on Wednesday extended his congratulations on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ (PBUH).
“Commemorating this significant event serves as a spiritual foundation for recalling divine commandments and the teachings of all prophets aimed at achieving justice, peace and freedom,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by IRNA.
As the New Year approaches, Pezeshkian expressed hope for effective actions toward peace, security, and freedom for oppressed nations, particularly the Palestinian people.
In his Christmas address on Wednesday, Pope Francis condemned the “extremely grave” humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where more than 45,300 Palestinians have been killed in more than 14 months of Israeli aggression.
The leader of the Catholic Church further urged the delivery of aid “to the people worn out by hunger and by war” in Gaza, as well as the release of Israeli captives held in the territory.
On Christmas Eve, the Iranian president also met with the families of two Christian soldiers who fell during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s to honor their sacrifices and express gratitude for their steadfastness.
Pezeshkian praised the two martyrs who defended their homeland along with their countrymen and “brought pride and honor for Iran” through their resilience and determination.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians around the globe, including “fellow Christian compatriots” in Iran, emphasizing that the occasion served as a reminder of Jesus Christ’s teachings of justice, peace and love.
“Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all Christians across the world, and to our fellow Christian compatriots in Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on his X account on Wednesday.
“Christmas is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the lofty teachings of Prophet Jesus Christ calling for justice, peace, love and compassion,” Baghaei added.