Christmas Spirit Returns to Bethlehem Amid Challenges

This Christmas Eve, Manger Square in Bethlehem witnessed a remarkable revival of holiday spirit, as thousands gathered to celebrate the season. The city’s iconic Christmas tree, absent during the recent Israel-Gaza conflict, proudly reappeared on Wednesday, uplifting the atmosphere for families in attendance.

A Return to Traditions

Located in the city believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem had to forgo Christmas festivities for the past two years. During those years, Manger Square showcased a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by symbols of strife, including rubble and barbed wire, a poignant reflection of the ongoing turmoil in Gaza.

The Kickoff to Celebration

This year, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest-ranking Catholic leader in the Holy Land, initiated the festive celebrations with the traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. He emphasized the importance of hope, calling for “a Christmas full of light” during his remarks.

Upon arriving in Manger Square, Pizzaballa conveyed well wishes from the small Christian community in Gaza, where he had conducted a pre-Christmas Mass the previous Sunday. Witnessing the devastation in Gaza, he felt a strong urge to inspire rebuilding and resilience.

Message of Unity and Hope

“Together, we choose to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem shines as a beacon for the world,” he proclaimed to an audience made up of both Christians and Muslims.

A City in Need

While the festive cheer was evident, the realities of the ongoing conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank remain deeply felt. In Bethlehem, approximately 80 percent of the predominantly Muslim population relies on tourism, highlighting the severe economic impact stemming from the war.