TEHRAN – In a message addressed to Pope Francis, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has extended his congratulations on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ.
The Iranian president said commemorating this significant event serves as a spiritual foundation for recalling divine commands and the teachings of all prophets aimed at achieving justice, peace, and freedom.
He noted that reflecting on the noble qualities of divine prophets could provide guidance for modern society in its pursuit of human perfection.
As the New Year approaches, Pezeshkian expressed hope for effective actions towards 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 Gaza, where more than 45,300 Palestinians have been killed in more than 14 months of aggression by the Israeli regime.
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.
Speaking in a meeting with a group of Iranian Christians, President Pezeshkian also extended his congratulations to the Iranian Christian community and all the Christians in the region and the entire world.
He criticized the killing of innocent people, particularly women and children, saying that the totalitarianism and egotism of some people and regimes in the world have roots in their lack of knowledge of religion and faith in God. 
“I hope our society and the world would witness peace and tranquility that the Jesus Christ wished for,” the Iranian president said. “We are working for the sake of justice and peace in the world,” he said.
The Iran foreign ministry also extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians around the globe, including “fellow Christian compatriots”, saying the occasion serves as a reminder of Jesus Christ’s teachings of justice, peace and love.
Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei conveyed the felicitation in a post on his official account on X. 
“Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all Christians across the world, and to our fellow Christian compatriots in Iran,” he wrote.
“Christmas is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the lofty teachings of Prophet Jesus Christ calling for justice, peace, love, and compassion,” he added.
Baghaei said that the Islamic Republic of Iran prides itself on the common heritage of Abrahamic religions.
“Iran takes pride in its rich history of coexistence and amity among Abrahamic religions and cultures.”