In a profound Christmas message addressing Haiti’s deepening crisis, the nation’s Catholic bishops have delivered a stark yet hopeful assessment of the country’s turmoil while calling for constitutional adherence and renewed leadership.
The Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) released its traditional holiday communique on December 8, 2025, drawing powerful parallels between the biblical narrative of Christ’s birth in impoverished circumstances and Haiti’s current reality of suffering and institutional collapse.
Describing the Haitian people as ‘journeying through the dark night of uncertainty and pain,’ the bishops rejected both naive optimism and despair, instead advocating for ‘responsible action grounded in faith.’ They characterized hope not as passive waiting but as active participation in creating ‘a better tomorrow,’ invoking their designation as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’
The religious leaders made specific reference to the upcoming political transition, urgently calling for adherence to the 1987 Constitution as the Presidential Transitional Council’s mandate approaches its expiration on February 7, 2026. They emphasized that democratic elections would remain impossible without first establishing nationwide security, calling upon both national and international actors to accelerate efforts toward creating stable conditions.
In a notable passage, the bishops pointed to the recent success of Haiti’s national football team as evidence of the nation’s ‘remarkable capacity for resilience when they choose unity and solidarity.’ This achievement, they noted, demonstrates that ‘no darkness is invincible.’
The message condemned structural violence and institutional limitations while appealing to political leaders to prioritize peace and human dignity over partisan interests. The bishops called for a new leadership model based on ‘integrity, service, and selflessness,’ describing true civic engagement as potentially requiring a form of ‘martyrdom’ through relinquishing privileges and resisting corruption.
Concluding with a solemn entrustment of Haiti to ‘Christ Jesus, Prince of Peace,’ the bishops invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection for the nation and those working toward reconciliation. The message was signed by all members of the Episcopal Conference, including Archbishop Max Léroys Mestidor of Port-au-Prince and Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes.