Church leaders' Christmas 2025 message to the people of Ireland

Artwork by Evie Kelly (12) Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. CCO archive.

Church Leaders: "The gift of hope is as precious as ever ... In our own country there are many who live in fear and uncertainty, struggling to make ends meet and fearful of what the future may bring ... Every life should be lived out in hope"

Christmas 2025 message

His name will be called Emmanuel, which means 'God with us' (Mt 1:23).

For Christians, what happened on the first Christmas night over 2,000 years ago, was much more than the birth of a baby boy. The child who came to birth in the darkness of that night in Bethlehem was the love of God made flesh, and the sign of God's closeness to all people. Christ's birth fulfilled the hope of God's people which had gone before and brought to light the hope of all believers for the ages to come.

In our present time the gift of hope is as precious as ever. We don't need to look very far or very hard to see where people's hope is in danger of being crushed. In too many places, from Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine and beyond, people live in the shadow of war and the threat of violence. Millions are still afflicted by the scourges of disease, poverty and famine.

There are many who are worn down by injustice and exploitation, human beings trafficked and treated as commodities or slaves, and those targeted because of their race or religion.

In our own country there are many who live in fear and uncertainty, struggling to make ends meet and fearful of what the future may bring. From young people uncertain of their prospects in an increasingly market-driven society, to farmers becoming ever more conscious of the precariousness of making a living off the land and worried about what the next generation will inherit, to those for whom homelessness is a daily reality or a real threat, hope can be very fragile indeed.

And for all who are suffering deep hurt, pain or grief, hope may be the only comfort and lifeline they have.

When we lose hope we lose part of our humanity, and our reason for living. Life is a precious gift from God, from its beginning to its end in this world and beyond. Life is a gift to be cherished and respected, and always treated with dignity. Every life should be lived out in hope. It is not just essential for us to hold on to hope for ourselves, but also to nurture and support hope in others.

In acknowledging our own human weakness, our faults and failures, we need the assurance of sins forgiven and the hope that is found in Christ who offers new beginnings. In the face of the many struggles and sufferings of our world, we need to proclaim constantly a message of hope.

In particular, for those who have power and influence, whether in politics, business, religious life, civic society or in any other way, there is a solemn and inescapable obligation to be messengers of hope and enemies of despair. May none be lost or forgotten.

For Christians, the Christmas season is a reminder that God is always with us. He shares our burdens of pain, anxiety and fear, as He did in the person of Jesus. The Christ-child of Bethlehem is also the one who endured the agony of the Cross and the one who triumphed over death. In Him, even in darkest times, our hope and refuge is found. He is our Emmanuel, the loving God who is with us now and always. We pray that all people of goodwill at this time may hold in their hearts the gift of hope for themselves and for a more peaceful, just and compassionate world. May all of our words and actions bring that hope closer to reality.

Archbishop John McDowell
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

Archbishop Eamon Martin
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Rt Revd Dr Richard Murray
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Revd Alan Wardlow
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland

The Rt Revd Sarah Groves
President of the Irish Council of Churches