Pope Leo decries ‘distorted econmoy’ in first Christmas Mass – DW – 12/25/2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged people to pause, reflect, and draw strength over Christmas, while acknowledging the challenges of his first year in office.

“Christmas is a time to pause, to be grateful, and to draw strength  in the circle of family and friends,” —Merz said in a Christmas message posted on X. “I wish you blessed, peaceful Christmas days and confidence for the new year. May this time strengthen and encourage us.”

In a separate video message lasting just over two minutes, Merz looked back on a year shaped by February’s elections, which brought him to power at the head of Europe’s largest economy. He said governing with his conservative bloc and the center-left Social Democrats had required compromise.

“There were discussions, and not everything went off completely smoothly,” Merz said.

“We need patience and persistence, just as much as the drive to continue to decide the best for our country every day,” he said.

Merz also stressed his government’s focus on Europe’s future, underlining peace, security, and prosperity as core priorities. “In these months and years, it’s about the peace, about the security and about the prosperity of our entire continent,” he said, reiterating his strong support for Ukraine.