December 25, 2025

The latest from domestic news

Newsroom, 25.12.2025, 13:45

Christmas. New-rite Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics and Catholics from all over the world, including Romania, which is predominantly Orthodox, are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar. Believers participate in the Liturgy, and children walk with the Star, announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. 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. In his Christmas message, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church urges acts of kindness, especially towards those in need. “May Christ the Lord, the lover of people and the savior of our souls, help us with his grace to show his humble and merciful love around us, towards all people, but especially towards poor children, the sick and the elderly, and may he pour into the hearts and homes of all his holy peace and joy, which he once gave to the angels and shepherds of Bethlehem,” urged the Patriarch. Pope Leo XIV appealed for compassion and peace. “Christmas is a celebration of hope, which makes us messengers of peace,” he said.

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.” He wishes Romanians a “blessed Christmas!” “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 concludes his message.

Mini-holiday. 23,000 police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, SMURD rescuers, and border police will be 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 attend the approximately 10,000 public events scheduled for the coming days, said Monica Dajbog, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Every day, an average of 2,000 traffic police officers will monitor roads that are usually congested during such periods in order to ease traffic and provide support to drivers. They will 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 items during this period. To support citizens spending their mini-vacation in the mountains, approximately 170 mountain gendarmes will be on standby every day. Also during the Christmas mini-holiday, approximately 3,300 border police officers will be 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.

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)