Middle East - Christmas at war: Procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem
In view of the war in Gaza, a much smaller Christmas procession of the Latin Patriarch has begun from Jerusalem to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
As every year, the procession began at the Jaffa Gate in the historic Old City of Jerusalem. However, Cardinal Pierbatista Pizzaballa, the highest representative of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, was only accompanied by a few Franciscans and a few other believers on the short drive to Bethlehem, a few kilometers to the south.
In the historic town, midnight mass is said in the world-famous Church of the Nativity. Under the altar is the grotto where, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was born more than 2000 years ago.
Usually tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world
However, the city, which is normally packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world at Christmas, is virtually deserted due to the war and the lockdown imposed by Israel. The large Christmas tree that usually stands in front of the Church of the Nativity during Advent is missing. The heads of the churches in Jerusalem had already decided in November that there would be no Christmas decorations in the Holy Land because of the war.
On the way to Bethlehem, the procession was to make a short stop, as it does every year, at the tomb of Patriarch Rachel, which Christians, Jews and Muslims alike venerate as a shrine. Right next to it, Israeli soldiers will then open a large metal gate through the concrete wall between Jerusalem and the West Bank, which is up to nine meters high. This gate will only be opened for Christian processions. The participants then have to return via other Israeli checkpoints, which often do not allow vehicles through.
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- Despite the ongoing conflicts in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, the Catholic Church in the Middle East decided to proceed with a smaller Christmas procession from Jerusalem to the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.
- The absence of war and lockdown-induced desertion in Bethlehem has significantly reduced the number of pilgrims participating in the Christmas celebration, typically attracting crowds from across the globe.
- The procession, led by Cardinal Pierbatista Pizzaballa, follows a traditional route, making a halt at the tomb of Patriarch Rachel, a shared veneration site for Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Middle East.
- The religious significance of Bethlehem, particularly the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born, has remained undiminished, serving as a source of hope amidst the surrounding conflicts in the region.
- The limited accessibility to Bethlehem and the Palestinian territories due to Israeli checkpoints and security restrictions has posed additional challenges for the participants of the Christmas procession.
- The ability of the Palestinian population within the West Bank to celebrate Christmas peacefully and in unison with their Christian counterparts outside the region would significantly contribute to fostering interfaith harmony and understanding in the Middle East.
Source: www.stern.de
