Azoreans,

Once again, we find ourselves in the Christmas season—

a time of affection, of reunions, of memory, and of hope.

In this season, marked by faith and sharing, we are reminded of what truly matters: peace in our hearts, care for one another, and confidence in a better future for each and every one of us.

In every place and every home across our archipelago, Christmas carries the sound of our traditions.

Families gather around the table, inspired by the spirit of solidarity that distinguishes our people.

But… wars, divisions, and injustices remind us daily of the urgency of safeguarding the most precious good humanity can possess:

Peace.

Here in the Azores, it is worth recalling the value of coexistence and dialogue—between generations, between islands, and between different ways of thinking.

In the Azores, as in the world, what must prevail in coexistence among all peoples and nations is humanism.

A culture of tolerance begins within ourselves, in our families, in our schools, and in our workplaces. It is a demanding and fragile construction, made of respect and responsibility.

May this Christmas renew in every Azorean the commitment to be a builder of peace—through words, gestures, and the choices made each day.

To the peoples and territories living amid hatred and war, we wish for a swift and lasting end to these realities, with renewed and constructive resolve toward a just peace—one grounded in understanding differences and respecting the dignity of every human being.

Our collective future finds its guarantee in young people.

If there is reason for hope, it is found in youth.

They carry within them the creative energy that transforms the present and projects the future.

Every young Azorean—who studies, who works, who dreams, or who returns to their homeland—carries the hope of a fairer and more prosperous tomorrow.

The achievements of the Azores are built in the name of the future, that is, in the name of our young people.

So much has been done. So much remains to be done!

We are committed to continuing to support education, innovation, and youth entrepreneurship.

We want every young person to feel that living in the Azores also means being close to the opportunities of the world.

New technologies, and the green and blue economies, open unprecedented doors for us—and it is within these fields that our young people must also find pathways to grow and contribute.

To young people facing doubts or challenges, I wish to leave a message of confidence: your determination and your talent are essential.

They are power.

The future of the Azores will be built with your hands.

And the future of the Azores requires that vision and commitment.

It demands that we know how to care for people… for what we have, for our natural resources, our cultural identity, and our political autonomy—while also knowing how to project what we wish to become.

Azoreans want a Region that continues to affirm itself in Europe and in the world, through sustainability and strengthened social cohesion.

An economy that modernizes, with technological progress walking hand in hand with the preservation of our sea, our land, and our Azorean way of life.

That is our vision: to serve the Azorean people with a sense of the future.

In yet another Christmas of hope, I leave a word of gratitude to all those who work for the Azores.

For everyone—everyone, everyone—as Pope Francis has inspired us.

With enduring appreciation and from the bottom of my heart, I extend a greeting to Azoreans who are far away, scattered across the world, yet who always carry in their hearts their Azorean origins and the longing for their islands.

To all, I send a fraternal greeting and the wish that, despite the distance, you may feel the warmth of our land and our friendship.

May this Christmas be for everyone a time of reconciliation and inner peace. May we look out for one another and keep hope alive.

I wish each and every one of you a Holy Christmas and a New Year filled with health, prosperity, and serenity.

Season’s greetings to all.

From Press Release

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.