While driving down an East Texas country road I spotted this scene. The autumn trees and the late afternoon sun made these golden bales of hay shine just a little bit more. Fortunately I had my camera with me. (c) James Q. Eddy Jr.

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Pope Leo XIV calls for a ceasefire in all conflicts in first Christmas Mass

By Ruth Sherlock

Published December 25, 2025 at 5:52 AM CST

Thousands of people gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square as Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass and called for a ceasefire in all conflicts this Christmas.

Ruth Sherlock

Ruth Sherlock is an International Correspondent with National Public Radio. She's based in Beirut and reports on Syria and other countries around the Middle East. She was previously the United States Editor for the Daily Telegraph, covering the 2016 US election. Before moving to the US in the spring of 2015, she was the Telegraph's Middle East correspondent.