December 25, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 25.12.2025, 18:50
Christmas. New-rite Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics and Catholics from all over the world, including Romania, on Thursday celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar. Believers participated in the Liturgy, and children walked with the Star, announcing the birth of Jesus. Over 2,000 years ago, the Virgin Mary and her fiancé, Joseph, went from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census ordered by the Roman Emperor Augustus. Mary was pregnant after the miraculous appearance of the angel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would give birth to the Messiah. In Bethlehem, the two stayed in a cave used as a shelter for animals and there Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Three wise men came from the East, guided by a star, to the place where Christ was born and brought the baby gifts, recognizing that a king had been born. Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the Holy Liturgy of the Nativity of the Lord at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. The Patriarch spoke about faith, good deeds and a pure life, precious gifts that Christians can offer to Christ, similar to the gifts He received from the three wise men from the east. In his traditional Christmas message, Urbi et Orbi, at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV lamented the situation of homeless people around the world and the destruction caused by wars in general.
Message. The President of Romania, Nicusor Dan, has conveyed a public Christmas message, stating that this holiday “reminds us of home, of the magic of childhood, and brings us closer to the essence of the values that give meaning to our lives.” The head of state emphasized that “the moments spent with family and the joy of having loved ones close to us are the most precious gifts, which, in the turmoil of everyday life, we sometimes risk not appreciating as much as we should.” “On these special days, let us find peace of mind, the strength to be better, wiser, and more understanding so that, together, we can regain the strength of a nation aware of its identity and determined to build its future with confidence. I wish you all a blessed Christmas!” the president also said in his message.
Mini-holiday. 23,000 police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, SMURD rescuers, and border police are present during the Christmas mini-holiday in crowded areas and near places of worship to maintain public order and respond quickly to emergencies. Almost one million people are expected to have attended the approximately 10,000 public events scheduled for these days, said Monica Dajbog, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Every day, an average of 2,000 traffic police officers monitor roads that are usually congested during such periods in order to ease traffic flow and provide support to drivers. They use approximately 400 radar devices to detect drivers who pose a danger to other road users. Dajbog mentioned that the police will continue their efforts to prevent and combat illegal trade in dangerous pyrotechnic articles during this period. To support citizens spending their mini-vacation in the mountains, approximately 170 mountain gendarmes are on standby every day. Also approximately 3,300 border police officers have been mobilized to protect the borders, prevent cross-border crime, and ensure smooth control at the external border.
Commemoration. December 25 remains, in Romania’s recent history, the day when, 36 years ago, the dictatorial couple Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu were executed in a barracks in the southern city of Targoviste. After a summary trial, the two were found guilty of genocide and undermining the national economy. Romania was the only Eastern European country where the overthrow of the communist regime was accompanied by bloodshed, which began with the outbreak of the Revolution on December 16, 1989, in Timisoara (west) and continued in Bucharest starting December 21, but also in other cities across the country. The violence resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people, victims of so-called terrorists, many of whom went unpunished because their identities were not established.
EU Council. On January 1, Cyprus takes over the six-month presidency of the EU Council. It’s priorities include European security, with an implicit focus on Ukraine, the enlargement of the Union and, above all, migration, as reported by the Radio Romania correspondent in Brussels. Cyprus is at the forefront of the migration route and will insist on the implementation of the European Pact for Migration, with an emphasis on shared responsibility and the protection of external borders. The new European legislation in the field will enter into force in the middle of the year, and Cyprus is preparing the ground for it to be functional, so that the pressures on the continent will decrease. A second major direction is security. It is not only about the military dimension, but also about energy or cybersecurity, and Cyprus will insist on collaboration with its neighbors in the south of the Union and with those in the Middle East.
Moldova. The General Inspectorate of Police of Romania and the General Inspectorate of Police of the Republic of Moldova (formerly Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking) signed a Memorandum in Chisinau on strengthening institutional cooperation in the field of witness protection. The memorandum reflects the joint commitment of the two institutions to develop and strengthen witness protection mechanisms, in accordance with international standards and best practices, with a view to effectively combating organized crime. In this context, the parties stressed the need to continuously adapt witness protection policies and strategies to developments in the criminal environment, as well as the importance of aligning the Republic of Moldova with European standards in this area. (MI)
