Churches in Jerusalem call for respectful Christmas celebrations amid war

By Lisa Zengarini

As Christmas approaches with no sign of a ceasefire in Gaza, Jerusalem’s patriarchs and church leaders have called on their communities to celebrate in a way that expresses Christian hope, but also respects the hardships endured by the population of Gaza amid the ongoing war.

In 2023, Church leaders made a joint decision to ask Christians in the Holy Land to refrain from displaying Christmas decorations and lights in public places, as a sign of solidarity with the multitudes who suffer from the war that has just broken out between Hamas and Israel.

Witnessing the Christmas Message of Hope

However, they said in a recent statementthat the announcement led many to believe that Christmas celebrations in the Holy Land had been canceled, with the result that “the unique testimony of the Christmas message of light coming out of darkness was diminished”, not only around the world but also among local Christians.

Jerusalem Church leaders are therefore encouraging the faithful this year to “fully commemorate” the birth of Christ “by giving public signs of Christian hope.” At the same time, they also called on them to do so “in a way that is appropriate to the serious difficulties that millions of people in our region continue to endure”.

Celebrate in solidarity with those suffering from war in the Holy Land

“The celebrations,” the statement said, “should certainly include continually supporting them in our prayers, reaching out to them with acts of kindness and charity, and welcoming them as Christ himself welcomed each of us “.

In this way – the Christian leaders concluded – we will echo the story of Christmas itself, where the angels announced to the shepherds the joyful news of the birth of Christ in the midst of equally dark times in our region, thus offering them to the whole world a message of hope and divine peace. “

Palestinian president to attend Christmas mass in Bethlehem

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also called for limiting Christmas celebrations in the Holy Land to religious rituals, given the plight of the Palestinian people. He did it during a see you this week with the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, and the Vice-Custody, Father Ibrahim Faltas, who, as usual, formally invited him to attend the Christmas Eve Mass, December 24, at Sainte-Catherine Church in Bethlehem. During the meeting, the Palestinian president sent his Christmas greetings to Palestinian Christians and reiterated his hope for peace soon.

Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Britain

Meanwhile, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, CThe ardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is traveling to London for a week visit to Britain to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in England and Wales. On Sunday, December 1, he will preach at a solemn Mass presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, for the First Sunday of Advent at Westminster Cathedral, then travel to Edinburgh, Scotland.