Christmas celebrations across Europe brought communities together through religious events, historic milestones, and festive traditions. From Pope Francis inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee in the Vatican to the reopening of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, the holiday spirit was alive with hope and renewal.
Vatican: Pope Francis Kicks Off Jubilee of Hope
Pope Francis inaugurated the 2025 Holy Year at St. Peter’s Basilica, opening the Holy Door to mark the start of a year dedicated to hope, reflection, and reconciliation. Speaking to worshippers, the Pope emphasized the Jubilee’s call for spiritual renewal and global transformation.
“This is the season of hope,” said Pope Francis, urging believers to bring hope to the weary, the broken-hearted, and those struggling with despair. The yearlong jubilee will feature cultural and religious events, including pilgrimages and concerts, uniting Catholics worldwide.
The pontiff plans to extend this message of hope by opening a Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison later this week, symbolizing new beginnings for inmates.
Paris: Notre Dame Reopens for Christmas Mass
For the first time since a devastating fire in 2019, Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral hosted Christmas Eve masses, marking a historic moment for the iconic Gothic structure. After years of intensive restoration, the cathedral reopened earlier this month, drawing thousands of worshippers and visitors for four Christmas Eve services.
The midnight mass, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, was a highlight of the celebrations. “We’ve come home!” Ulrich declared, celebrating the return to the cherished cathedral. Tourists and locals alike marveled at the restoration’s success, with many calling it a moving, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The restoration was funded by nearly $1 billion in global donations, a testament to the cathedral’s cultural and spiritual significance.
Athens: Lanterns Light the Night Sky
In Athens, Greece, thousands gathered at Kotzia Square on Christmas Eve to participate in a beloved annual tradition. Attendees wrote wishes on paper lanterns and released them into the night sky, creating a stunning display of light and hope.
“It’s a night of wishes,” said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. “Athens celebrates, becoming a huge and beautiful event.”
The celebration highlighted the unity and joy of the season, drawing residents and visitors alike to share in the festive atmosphere.
From spiritual renewal in the Vatican to joyous traditions in Athens, Europe’s Christmas celebrations demonstrated resilience, hope, and the enduring spirit of community.
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A drone incident at a military base in Przasnysz has triggered a police inquiry in Poland as security agencies across Europe confront a growing number of unauthorised devices entering restricted airspace.
Europe is increasingly viewing the South Caucasus not as a region of frozen conflicts, but as a space of opportunity, stability and strategic connectivity, international relations expert Nargiz Mammadova said.
Truck drivers in two of the four Balkan states protesting against the EU’s tightened entry-exit rules stepped back on Thursday, easing some pressure on major cargo routes, while colleagues in Bosnia and Serbia kept their lines of trucks in place.
Winter weather has brought air travel in the German capital to a complete halt, stranding thousands of passengers as severe icing conditions make runways and aircraft unsafe for operation and force authorities to shut down one of Europe’s key transport hubs.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb that killed at least 31 people in the deadliest assault of its kind in the capital in more than a decade.
Ukraine and Russia carried out a rare exchange of 314 prisoners on Thursday as U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi closed with a pledge to resume negotiations soon, offering one of the clearest signs of diplomatic movement in months.
Alphabet is emerging as a frontrunner in the global artificial intelligence race, as analysts and executives say Google has overtaken OpenAI, marking a sharp reversal from a year ago when the company was widely seen as lagging.
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A Rome church has painted over an angel that had been restored to resemble Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after the image triggered political and clerical criticism.
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