Pope Francis appeals for peace in Ukraine and Gaza as California faces severe flooding and the Kremlin condemns a holiday message from Volodymyr Zelensky.The global holiday period was marked by the passing of music pioneer Paolo Bontempi and festive greetings from leaders including Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen.While Matteo Salvini criticized judicial decisions following his recent acquittal, other international figures focused on resolving humanitarian crises and territorial conflicts.