Ruth Sherlock
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Pope Leo remembered in his address his predecessor, Pope Francis.
His prophetic voice, his pastoral style and his rich teachings have defined the path of the Church in these years, Leo said, encouraging us to place God's mercy at the centre.
He said the Church should be welcoming to all and caring for the poor.
Francis, who led the 1.4 billion member Catholic Church for 12 years, had been known to use these annual Christmas addresses to scathingly critique the work of his cardinals.
Leo, who is more diplomatic, was much gentler.
He warned officials only not to allow rigidity or ideology to slow progress for the church.
Ursula von der Leyen is responding to attacks on Europe made in the Trump administration's new national security strategy.
The public document describes Europe as a decaying group of nations and says the US should, quote, cultivate resistance within these countries to policies and governing bodies the US disagrees with, such as the European Union.
Speaking at an event organised by the media company Politico, von der Leyen said the sovereignty of voters in Europe must be protected.
and that, quote, nobody else is supposed to interfere.
She said the Trump administration's stance is one reason why the EU is trying to set up a, quote, democracy shield project meant to fight against foreign interference online, including in elections.
Pope Leo began the day visiting a hilltop monastery with sweeping views of the sea to pray at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a Lebanese Maronite revered by both Christians and Muslims.
At another pilgrimage site high in the mountains, Pope Leo heard testimonies, including from a priest helping refugees and a Filipina domestic worker, about the treatment of migrants in Lebanon.
Leo called on church workers to bring hope to their faithful, saying that even among the rubble of a world that has its own painful failures, it's important to offer prospects for rebirth.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Beirut.
Pope Leo began the day visiting a hilltop monastery with sweeping views of the sea to pray at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a Lebanese Maronite revered by both Christians and Muslims.