Pilgrims Flock to Bethlehem to Celebrate Christmas
The acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads a Christmas midnight mass at Saint Catherine's Church, in the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Dec. 25, 2018.
BETHLEHEM —
The Palestinian Authority has hosted thousands of visitors for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
Christmas Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, attended by many Palestinian Christians. This worshipper had a message of goodwill: “To make peace, that’s the message. For everyone in the world, to make peace.”
Clergymen attend Christmas celebrations at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Dec. 24, 2018.
Bells rang out in Manger Square summoning throngs of pilgrims from around the world to the ancient grotto where tradition says Jesus was born. Gayle Weiland came from California in the United States.
“You know, I believe it’s all energy, and you can feel the energy here. It just transcends. It’s spiritual. I actually am an artist and I paint angels, and I feel like I’m surrounded [by angels],” said Weiland.
FILE - People visit a shop near the Church of the Nativity, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem, Dec. 6, 2018.
It was a big turnout of visitors this year and that is good news for Palestinian merchants in Manger Square. Shopkeeper Mary Giacaman offers pilgrims mementos from the Holy Land.
“We sell nativity scenes made from olive wood, we sell Christmas ornaments, anything made of olive wood or mother of pearl; we make it and sell it also,” she said.
Palestinians here complain that Bethlehem is walled off by the Israeli “occupation,” but they say that cannot take the joy out of Christmas.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, second from left in front, attends a Christmas midnight mass at Saint Catherine's Church, in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally recognized by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
“It’s always a Merry Christmas; it’s always a new hope for all the people. We pray it will bring peace in our hearts, in our home, in our country, all over the world,” said Giacaman.
In a land torn by conflict, Bethlehem remains a symbol of hope for better times.
IN PICTURES: Christmas Around the Word
Christmas Celebrations Around the World
1/10Pope Francis delivers the "Urbi et Orbi" message from the main balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Dec. 25, 2018.
2/10Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, second from left in front, attends a Christmas midnight mass at Saint Catherine's Church, in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally recognized by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Dec. 25, 2018.
3/10Children participate in a nativity scene at Mart Shmoni Church in the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 25, 2018.
4/10Residents affected by the tsunami attend a mass during Christmas at Carita Pentecostal Church in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, Dec. 25, 2018.
5/10Britain's Prince Charles, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge along with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at St. Mary Magdalene's church for the Royal Family's Christmas Day service on the on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, Dec. 25, 2018
6/10A woman prays during a Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore, Pakistan, Dec. 25, 2018.
7/10U.S. and NATO forces sing carols during a ceremony on Christmas Day at the Resolute Support Headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 25, 2018.
8/10A Syrian Christian priest leads a mass on Christmas at the Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Dec. 25, 2018.
9/10A street vendor waits for customers to sell Christmas trees in Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec. 25, 2018.
10/10Members of the swimming club 'Berlin seals' wear Christmas costumes as they go for a swim in the Orankesee lake in Berlin, Germany, Dec. 25, 2018.
