Pope Leo XIV congratulated Orthodox Christians on Christmas according to the Julian calendar

Pope Leo XIV has addressed a Christmas greeting to Orthodox Christians who celebrate the feast of Christmas according to the Julian calendar. The Pontiff expressed his best wishes for peace and tranquility to all believers and their families.

According to the information portal “Vatican News”, the greeting was announced on January 6, 2026 after the traditional prayer “Angel of the Lord”. In his address, the head of the Catholic Church said, “My thought is addressed to the ecclesial communities of the East, who tomorrow will celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord Jesus grant you and your families peace and rest!”

This tradition of celebrating Christmas according to the Julian calendar unites a number of local Orthodox Churches. Among them are the Jerusalem, Serbian, Russian, Ukrainian, Macedonian, Polish, Georgian Churches, as well as the monastic community of the Holy Mount Athos.

We shall remind you that the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said that the changes in the calendar of church and state holidays were of a deep ideological nature. According to him, these reforms are intended to define Ukraine’s place in the civilized world and revise its national identity.