President Isaac Herzog held a phone conversation with Pope Leo XIV, extending greetings to Christian communities ahead of the Christmas holiday. The discussion focused on the troubling increase in antisemitism worldwide, including a recent terror attack targeting the Jewish community in Sydney. Herzog emphasized the significance of Israel's ties with the Holy See and the global Christian community, expressing pride in Israel's Christian communities and their upcoming annual gathering in Jerusalem. Both leaders shared their hopes for peace and a more hopeful future in the coming year.