In a year shadowed by political conflict and natural disasters, journalists from The Associated Press found themselves at the heart of some of 2025's most unexpectedly joyful and hopeful moments. From a historic papal election to a Nobel Prize surprise and acts of resilience amid calamity, these stories offered powerful counterpoints to a challenging global narrative.
A Historic Call from the Vatican
One of the year's defining events was the selection of the first American pope, Leo XIV. As the new pontiff appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, AP video journalist Obed Lamy was in suburban Chicago, interviewing the pope's older brother, John Prevost. The scene took an extraordinary turn when a ringing sound echoed from the basement.
"That might be the pope," Prevost remarked before hurrying to answer a tablet. Lamy followed with his camera rolling as Prevost returned the call via speakerphone. The voice of Pope Leo XIV filled the room, casually asking his brother why he hadn't answered earlier calls. "Well, first you need to know you’re on the air right now," the brother replied, to which the pope simply continued a familiar sibling chat about family travel plans to Rome.
Lamy described the surreal experience, saying he was shaking, uncertain if he should speak. The conversation, lasting just minutes, revealed the human side of a momentous historic occasion.
Delivering Nobel News at Dawn
In North Seattle, AP photographer Lindsey Wasson played an unexpected role in another major story. Dispatched before dawn on the day the Nobel Prize in Medicine was announced, Wasson arrived at the home of scientist Mary E. Brunkow. Her task was to capture the winner's reaction, but she found herself breaking the news instead.
After a confusing GPS route led her to a dark driveway, Wasson knocked, waking the family dog and subsequently Brunkow's husband, Ross. Through the glass door, she told him, "Sir, your wife just won the Nobel Prize." Initially met with disbelief and annoyance at the 3:45 a.m. disruption, the mood transformed into joy as the couple processed the news and saw the missed calls from Sweden.
Wasson documented the intimate moments as Mary sifted through a sudden avalanche of congratulatory messages, having delivered the life-changing announcement before the Nobel committee itself could make contact.
Resilience in the Face of Disaster
Beyond these singular events, AP journalists chronicled profound community resilience. In the Philippines, veteran photographer Aaron Favila raced through typhoon floods north of Manila to cover a wedding. After his vehicle was stopped by deep water, he hitched a ride on a rescue truck, arriving just as the door was opened for the bride.
The groom, Jade Rick Verdillo, explained their determination to proceed, stating the floods were "just one of the struggles that we’ve overcome." Favila stayed for the entire ceremony, capturing every moment as floodwaters surrounded the church.
In Southern California, reporter Jocelyn Gecker covered the opening night of a youth theatre group whose theatre and many homes had been destroyed by the Palisades wildfire just weeks earlier. The production of "Crazy for You" became a beacon of hope. Director Lara Ganz, who also lost her home, said it was about restoring togetherness and showing the children that life was not over.
One teenage performer said dancing to Gershwin melodies lifted the weight of his loss. The story resonated deeply, leading to members of the Gershwin family trust attending a performance and sending a letter praising the cast's "amazing dedication" and resilience, adding that George and Ira Gershwin would have been proud.
These accounts, gathered by AP journalists on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, underscore a powerful truth: even in a year of headlines dominated by strife, moments of human connection, triumph, and indomitable spirit persistently break through, offering essential glimpses of light and hope.
