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Pezeshkian extends Christmas, New Year greetings to Pope, wishes peace across world
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian observed Christmas on Thursday by issuing an English-language message honoring Jesus Christ as a symbol of mercy, justice and compassion, extending greetings to Christians in Iran and worldwide, according to a post on his official X account in Tehran.
In the message, published on December 25 to coincide with Christmas Day in the Christian calendar, Pezeshkian said Jesus Christ is “revered in our tradition as a messenger of compassion, justice, and mercy,” and expressed hope that his teachings would continue to inspire dignity and peace among nations, president.ir reported.
The statement, addressed to Christians in Iran and abroad, emphasized themes of interfaith respect and coexistence, framing Jesus Christ as a shared moral figure whose message transcends religious boundaries.
Pezeshkian described Christ’s teachings as timeless and relevant to contemporary global challenges, emphasizing peace and human dignity as universal values.
In a separate congratulatory message sent the same day to Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pezeshkian marked both Christmas and the start of the 2026 Gregorian New Year.
In that message, he highlighted spiritual virtues attributed to Jesus Christ, including justice, freedom and compassion, which he said are also praised in the Qur’an.
Pezeshkian said global challenges require collective wisdom and reflection, calling for independent and responsible action by political leaders and intellectuals to steer the international community away from conflict and toward peace and stability.
He concluded by wishing health to the pope and peace and prosperity to Christian communities worldwide.
Later on Thursday evening, Pezeshkian visited the Tehran home of the family of Razmik Khachatorian, a Christian Iranian killed during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq war, to commemorate Christmas and honor the role of religious minorities in the country’s modern history.
During the meeting, Pezeshkian paid tribute to Khachatorian’s memory and praised the contributions of Iranian Christians to national unity and territorial integrity.
He described the participation of Christian citizens in the war as a visible expression of solidarity across ethnic and religious lines.
Ara Shahverdyan, the parliamentary representative of Iran’s Christian community, attended the meeting and thanked the president for the visit, reaffirming the community’s commitment to public service and national cohesion.
Iran officially recognizes Christianity as a minority religion, with Armenian and Assyrian communities maintaining seats in parliament.