Leaders throughout the world deliver Christmas messages
{{date|December 25, 2007}}

International leaders have issued [[w:Christmas|Christmas]] time messages:

==[[Australia]]==
In his first Christmas address as Australia's Prime Minister, [[w:Kevin Rudd|Kevin Rudd]] called on his nation to drive safely during the holiday season, noting that his father was killed in a vehicle collision in the late 1960s. Rudd also commended the nation's charities for helping the less fortunate, and Australian troops serving abroad.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22969105-661,00.html|title=PM Kevin Rudd calls for safe driving in festive season|author=AAP|pub=Herald Sun|date=December 24, 2007}}
*(video) {{source|url=http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=5645320&ch=4226714&src=news|title=Christmas messages from leaders|author=Australia 7 News|pub=Yahoo|date=December 2007}}

==[[w:The Bahamas|The Bahamas]]==
As Bahamian Prime Minister [[w:Hubert Ingraham|Hubert Ingraham]]'s extended Christmas greetings, he noted various challenges such as the economic downturn on [[w:Grand Bahama|Grand Bahama]] island and the heavy rainfall damage sustained in some regions in October and November. The nation prepares to celebrate its [[w:Junkanoo|Junkanoo]] festival on Wednesday.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Christmas_Message_from_Prime_Minister_and_Minister_of_Finance_the_Rt_Hon_Hubert_A_Ingraham.shtml|title=Christmas Message from Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham|author=Hubert A. Ingraham|pub=The Bahamas Weekly|date=December 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/GOV--Links--Christmas+Message+from+Rt.+Hon.+Hubert+A.+Ingraham!Opendocument|title=Christmas Message from Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister|author=Hubert Ingraham|pub=The Commonwealth of the Bahamas|date=December 2007}}

==[[Belgium]]==
The Christmas and New Year's address of Belgium's [[w:Albert II of Belgium|King Albert]] called for national harmony among the national cultures, chiefly the [[w:Flemish people|Flemish]] and [[w:Walloons|Walloon]] groups. This follows a year in which a national government could not be assembled for many months since elections in June.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxEKNJnH0H6sYxslaRQgm24NGbwQ|title=Belgian king urges reconciliation in Christmas message|author=|pub=Agence France-Presse|date=December 24, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://monarchie.be/nl/activities/speeches/speeches_detail.php?id=5382|title=Kersttoespraak van Z.M. Koning Albert II|pub=The Belgian Monarchy|date=December 24, 2007|lang=Dutch}}
*{{source|url=http://monarchie.be/fr/activities/speeches/speeches_detail.php?id=5382|title=Discours de Noël de S.M. le Roi Albert II|pub=The Belgian Monarchy|date=December 24, 2007|lang=French}}

==[[Canada]]==
Prime Minister [[w:Stephen Harper|Stephen Harper]]'s Christmas message paid tribute to the nation's generous spirit whose "purest expression today is the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, where our soldiers, diplomats and aid workers are, at great cost to themselves helping the Afghan people rebuild their shattered country." He noted the significant anniversaries to come in 2008 such as the 150 years since the founding of [[w:Colony of British Columbia|British Columbia colony]] and the 400 years since [[w:Quebec City|Quebec City]] was created by [[w:Samuel de Champlain|Samuel de Champlain]].

Some controversy arose as the Prime Minister's greeting omitted the Islamic [[w:Eid-ul-Adha|Eid-ul-Adha]] observance, while including [[w:Hanukkah|Hanukkah]] and Christmas.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1942|title=Christmas Greetings from Prime Minister Harper
|author=Stephen Harper|pub=Government of Canada|date=December 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c93d6a69-9a07-42a5-8d05-d144cdf96e61|title=Harper's greeting omits Eid-ul-Adha|author=Glen McGregor|pub=The Ottawa Citizen|date=December 22, 2007}}

==[[Liberia]]==
[[w:Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf|Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf]], President of Liberia, noted progress in the country's labour and economic situations during her Christmas address.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://newliberian.com/?cat=2|title=President Johnson-Sirleaf Delivers Christmas Message to Liberians|author=Editor|pub=New Liberian|date=December 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=554|title=President Sirleaf Delivers Christmas Message--Speaks of Progress and Challenges|author=Executive Mansion|pub=Government of the Republic of Liberia|date=December 20, 2007}}

==[[Philippines]]==
From the Philippines, President [[w:Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo|Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]]'s 's Christmas message included a tribute to the nation's 8 million overseas workers, extending gratitude to their host nations.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/25/yehey/top_stories/20071225top2.html|title=Family, OFWs in Christmas messages|author=|pub=The Manila Times|date=December 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.gov.ph/news/|title=Christmas Message of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo|author=Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo|pub=Republic of the Philippines|date=December 23, 2007}}

==[[Turkey]]==
Turkish President [[w:Abdullah Gül|Abdullah Gül]] issued a Christmas message on Monday expressing wishes for unity and tolerance in the nation. Although Turkey is a largely Islamic nation, the President indicated its Christian citizens were "equal members of the Turkish nation".

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=130016&bolum=101|title=President highlights solidarity in Christmas message|author=|pub=Today's Zaman|date=December 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=208050|title=Gul Issues Christmas Message|author=|pub=Turkish Press|date=December 24, 2007}}

==[[United States]]==
American President [[w:George W. Bush|George Bush]]'s brief Christmas statement began with a passage from [[w:Gospel of Luke|the Gospel of Luke]] foretelling the [[w:Nativity of Jesus|Nativity of Jesus]], then gave "thanks for Christ's message of love and mercy" while remembering the nation's "responsibility to serve".

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2007/12/25/season-s-greetings-from-world-leaders.aspx|title=Season's greetings from world leaders|author=Ronald Nurwisah|pub=National Post|date=December 25, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071221-1.html|title=Presidential Message: Christmas 2007|author=George Bush|pub=White House|date=December 21, 2007}}

==[[United Kingdom]]==
[[w:Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth]]'s annual Christmas message began and ended footage from her 1957 Christmas address, the first message from a British Monarch to be televised. Her 2007 address mentioned family, the work of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the need for charity. A recently-introduced royal [[YouTube]] channel also presented the Queen's Christmas message for Internet viewers.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel
|title=The Christmas Broadcast, 2007|author=Queen Elizabeth II|pub=YouTube|date=December 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page6162.asp|title=The Christmas Broadcast 2007 (transcript)|author=Queen Elizabeth II|pub=British Monarchy Media Centre|date=December 25, 2007}}

==[[w:Vatican|The Vatican]]==
[[w:Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Benedict]] delivered his Christmas "[[w:Urbi et orbi|Urbi et orbi]]" to many thousands at [[w:Saint Peter's Square|Saint Peter's Square]] in [[w:Vatican City|Vatican City]] after celebrating the traditional Christmas Midnight Mass service. The pontiff remembered the world's war-torn regions including Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans, calling for the light of Christ to "shine forth and bring consolation to those who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war." He decried the various injustices and conflicts, noting these "are destroying the internal fabric of many countries and embittering international relations."

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=4049585&page=1|title=Pope Wishes the World a Merry Christmas
|author=|pub=ABC News|date=December 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=176044|title=Christmas Message 'Urbi et Orbi' of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
|author=|pub=Vatican Radio|date=December 25, 2007}}

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[[Category:World]]
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[[Category:Liberia]]
[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:Turkey]]
[[Category:United States]]
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[[Category:The Vatican]]
[[Category:Christmas]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Abdullah Gül]]
[[Category:Eid al-Adha]]
International leaders have issued Christmas time messages:

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Some controversy arose as the Prime Minister's greeting omitted the Islamic Eid-ul-Adha observance, while including Hanukkah and Christmas.

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World Culture and entertainment Politics and conflicts Australia Bahamas Belgium Canada Liberia Philippines Turkey United States United Kingdom The Vatican Christmas Europe Asia North America Abdullah Gül Eid al-Adha