During this Christmas season—a time of hope and renewal—we are called to engage in a deep and calm reflection on the values that shape our collective identity and the future of our Region.

Christmas, beyond the celebration of faith and family, is also a moment to reaffirm the principles of solidarity and social cohesion. In the face of a global context marked by ongoing challenges, our responsibility as a community becomes ever more pressing. In the Azores, this responsibility translates into the imperative to protect our human capital and to ensure well-being and justice for all who live on our islands.

This collective aspiration, which springs from our insular identity, finds its echo and its legitimate expression in the Legislative Assembly. It is with this awareness that we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to building a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive Region—one in which the voice of every Azorean is valued.

The spirit of sharing inspired by Christmas should therefore serve as a catalyst to strengthen the bonds that unite our communities and, in a special way, our Diaspora, to whom I extend a warm greeting.

To the Azoreans who work and innovate on our islands as well: it is through daily effort, entrepreneurial spirit, and the resilience shown across every sector—from the most traditional to the most innovative—that our Region continues to grow.

To families, young people, seniors, entrepreneurs, health professionals, educators, and all those dedicated to public service: your contribution is the pillar of our Autonomy and our progress.

May we use this Christmas season to reinforce unity, to support those most in need, and to look to the future of the Azores with determination and optimism.

On behalf of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and in my own name, I wish all Azoreans a Christmas of Peace, Health, and Deep Hope, and may the year 2026 be marked by new and meaningful achievements for our Region.

Luís Carlos Correia Garcia
President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores

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.