Date: 2025-12-25
U.S. government releases (seed items)
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Presidential Message on Christmas (White House)
The White House page titled “Presidential Message on Christmas” (2025-12-25) could not be retrieved due to a technical error. Only page metadata (title, date, tags, URL) and an image placeholder were available; the substantive text of the message was not accessible on the site. Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/12/presidential-message-on-christmas/
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Secretary Rubio’s call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (State Department)
The State Department release entitled “Secretary Rubio’s Call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet” (2025-12-25) similarly returned a technical error. Only metadata (title, date, tags, URL) was visible; no substantive details of the call were available on the page. Source: https://www.state.gov/releases/preview/660973/
Vatican / Pope Leo XIV — Christmas Urbi et Orbi
Pope Leo XIV delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day 2025 and used his first Christmas message since election to call attention to multiple conflict-affected populations. He highlighted the humanitarian situation in Gaza — noting people sheltering in tents exposed to rain, wind and cold — and prayed for peace and an end to hostilities in Ukraine and other troubled regions. The pope presided at Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and offered greetings in multiple languages.
Source: CNN — full coverage and text summary of the pope’s Christmas message and Mass: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/25/europe/pope-leo-christmas-day-mass-gaza-intl
Gaza and Christmas-day coverage
Reporting from Gaza on December 25 described a subdued Christmas for Palestinian Christians amid ongoing hostilities. Al Jazeera’s live updates described Israeli bombardment and drone activity that overshadowed celebrations and documented the precarious conditions faced by civilians in the enclave. Coverage noted constrained movements, damage to homes and continuing humanitarian concerns during winter conditions.
Source: Al Jazeera live updates: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/12/25/live-sound-of-israels-bombs-drone-hums-drown-out-christmas-in-gaza
Practical note — Christmas services and retail (U.S.)
Consumer-facing coverage on December 25 noted which stores, restaurants and chains were open or closed for Christmas Day; many major retailers and grocery chains remained closed while a limited set of outlets continued operating for last‑minute needs.
Source (illustrative): CBS News summary of stores and services open on Christmas Day 2025: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/open-christmas-day-2025/