Ukraine expressed support for Pope Francis’s call for an Olympic truce during the Winter Games. Kyiv said the appeal promotes peace and humanitarian relief, though Russia has not committed to halting military operations amid the ongoing conflict.

Noting that Christmas is not just the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but also to remember his life, message and values, the Prime Minister underlined the values of compassion and service that Jesus lived by. He said that Jesus worked to create an inclusive society where justice prevails for all and it is these values that are illuminating the way like a guiding light in the development journey of India.

"Praying for the good health and speedy recovery of Pope Francis."Praying for the good health and speedy recovery of Pope Francis.

While the Pope's staff claimed that the tests had been pre-scheduled, Italian media has thrown doubt on this. They say that the pontiff actually had an interview scheduled for "this afternoon" (Wednesday) and that it was cancelled at the last moment

Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus, has died in Vatican City at the age of 95 following a period of ill health. Benedict, who was the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position, rather than hold office for life, passed away on Saturday, according to a statement from the Vatican.

On this day in 1941, Japanese bombers launched a surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, precipitating the entry of the United States into World War II.