Imam Khomeini once in a historic message on the occasion of Christmas and New Year said that Jesus has been messenger of God the Almighty who spread love and peace and undertook serious efforts to establish justice.
Imam stressed that all religious minorities of Iran would be free to perform their religious and social activities, and the Islamic republic views it as its duty to protect their rights and safety; they, like the Muslims of Iran, are Iranians and respectable. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol.4, page 419)
Imam Khomeini also said that the Islamic government is a democratic government in the true sense of the word, and under which, there are equally complete freedoms for all religious minorities, and everyone will be able to express his or her opinion. ( Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol.4, page 390)
Imam Khomeini urged the followers of Jesus and the Christian World to rise up against oppression and called on them to become united under the banner of monotheism in order to confront aggressive policies of colonial and exploiting powers.
One of the most famous messages, Imam Khomeini issued on Christmas occasion to the Christians of the world on December 24, 1979. Some phrases from the historic message come as following:
Merry Christmas to the oppressed nations of the world, to the Christian nations and the Christians of Iran.
Christ was a great messenger whose mission was to establish justice and mercy, and who with his heavenly words and deeds condemned the tyrants and supported the oppressed.
You priests and clergy, followers of Christ, rise up and give your support to the oppressed of the world against the oppressors, and for the sake of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ, ring the bells of your churches just once in support of the oppressed of Iran and in condemnation of the oppressors.
Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for justice and strive after it. Woe to those who strive against the teachings of Jesus Christ and all the prophets, for the sake of spies and oppressors of the rights of nations.
And O Nation of the Messiah, and followers of Jesus, the spirit of God, rise up and defend the dignity of Jesus Christ, and the nation of Christianity, and do not let the enemies of the divine teachings and the opposes of godly orders give false impression of Christianity and its clergy to the oppressed peoples of the world.
Do not be deceived by the presence of the super powers in churches, or by their prayers for spies and traitors. They think of nothing but more power, or supremacy over the world, which is against divine teachings. Our nation suffered from this hypocrisy of the oppressors for many years.
And you, the oppressed of the world arise and unite to be rid of the oppressors, for the earth belongs to God, and its inheritors are the oppressed.