Message to Christians and Muslims Worldwide on the Anniversary of the Birth of Jesus Christ

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

O Mary, indeed God gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to God]. (Al-Imran: 45)

I extend my congratulations on the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, the chosen prophet of God, to my Christian compatriots and all Christians and Muslims.

That word of God, in an era of misguidance, ignorance, injustice, and disregard for human values, carried the banner of guidance and salvation for humanity. He rose against the oppressive powers of wealth and force and endeavored to spread justice, mercy, and monotheism. Today, believers in that great prophet—Christians and Muslims—must turn to the teachings and path of the prophets to establish a worthy global order and expand human virtues according to the teachings of those teachers of humanity.

The oppressive powers of the world, especially in the last century, have insisted on eliminating spirituality and high human values from the lives of human societies. The result has been the spread of moral corruption, addiction, lawlessness, the destruction of the family foundation, the growth of exploitation, the widening gap between rich and poor nations, increasing distance from social justice, disregard for human dignity, the production of deadly weapons, and the increase of mass killings. Science, like humanity, has also fallen victim to the elimination of spirituality and disregard for religious values.

If Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) were among us today, he would not waste a moment in fighting the leaders of oppression and global arrogance and would not tolerate the hunger and wandering of billions of people who are exploited and driven to war, corruption, and conflict by the great powers.

I hope that with the awakening of human societies, the sincere efforts of the flag bearers of religious knowledge, and the awakening of dormant consciences, humanity will face a century of turning towards spirituality and religious values. The world will witness, just as it saw the disappearance of Marxist governments, the collapse of all arrogant and oppressive foundations.

Peace be upon the righteous servants of God

Ali Hosseini Khamenei

7/10/1370