Ecumenical Christmas in Turku
Christmas peace while the world screams
The traditional Ecumenical Christmas in Turku is arranged in Turku Cathedral on Thursday, December 11, 2025, starting at 18.00.
The theme of 2025 is “Christmas peace while the world screams”. Antti Kuronen, Foreign Correspondent at Yle, is the deliverer of the humanitarian message. The Ecumenical peace plea is presented by Tapio Luoma, archbishop of Turku and Finland’s Evangelic-Lutheran church, archbishop Elia of Helsinki and the Orthodox church in Finland, bishop Raimo Goyarrola of the Catholic church in Finland, and Saga Lippo, lieutenant colonel in the Salvation Army.
During the evening, performances are seen by soprano Iris Candelaria, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra with Jan Söderblom in the lead, Turku Cathedral Chamber Choir Nova, cantor Jukka Pietilä, and clarinettist Nevio Ciancaglini.
Yle records the event and airs the montage on the Yle TV1 television channel on Christmas Eve, about one hour before the declaration of Christmas peace.
Deliverers of the humanitarian message
The first Ecumenical Christmas in Turku was arranged in 1994 in Turku Cathedral. In addition to the representatives of the denominations, starting in 1998, a deliverer of the humanitarian message is also invited.
A widely known and highly respected person or organisation will be invited to deliver the humanitarian message. The invitee is someone, who has made a significant contribution to building and maintaining world peace, or repairing the aftermath of war.
Messengers during recent years:
2025 Reporter Antti Kuronen
2024 Ombudsman for Children in Finland Elina Pekkarinen
2023 Director of LWF World Service Maria Immonen
2022 Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella
2021 Secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization Petteri Taalas
The first humanitarian message was delivered by Councellor of State Harri Holkeri in 1998. The message has also been delivered by, among others, President of the Republic of Estonia Lennart Meri (2000), United Nations’ Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks (2004), Minister Elisabeth Rehn (2009), Chief Medical Officer, archiatre Risto Pelkonen (2012), and President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö (2013).