Cardinal of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa: Let us look to the future with hope, without hatred or violence

Of Marinella Bandini

Bethlehem, December 26, 2024 / 10:50 am

The atmosphere in Bethlehem, the city where Jesus was born, was more relaxed this Christmas.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was the subject of a protest in the city at last year’s feast, spoke to people in Manger Square, where a stage had been set up.

“Our Christmas commitment is to rebuild our trust and renew our hope for life here in Bethlehem and throughout Palestine,” the patriarch said.

“We believe that the light has come to us, and the light is Jesus Christ. We belong to the light, not the darkness. We may not have lights, but we are the light,” he declared.

“Take courage, do not be afraid; we will not allow war to erase our lives,” Pizzaballa added. The war in Gaza still casts its shadow over Bethlehem, which has suffered a severe economic crisis, with shutters closed and several hotels closed.

In the streets there were several families who brought their children and asked the Patriarch for a blessing. And he did not fail to offer his greeting, a kiss and a blessing to young and old alike.

For its part, the municipality did not once again promote the Christmas events, although many of the Christians in the locality would have wanted a sign of celebration.

“It is our tradition. Showing our faith does not mean forgetting those who suffer. We could have done something differently,” George, who was born and raised in Bethlehem, told CNA.

At the nearby Basilica of the Nativity, the Franciscan sacristan, Brother Anania Jacek, prepared the arrangements for the Christmas Eve Mass in the Grotto of the Nativity. There, at the end of the Christmas Eve Liturgy, the patriarch placed the statue of the Baby Jesus.

As the day drew to a close, the Church of St. Catherine — the Latin part of the Basilica of the Nativity — was filled with believers.

At the singing of the Gloria and the ringing of Christmas bells, the statue of the Baby Jesus in front of the altar was unveiled and enraged. At the end of the Liturgy, the statue was enthroned on the altar and then carried in procession to the Nativity Grotto. It was placed first on the silver star marking the place of Jesus’ birth and then in the place traditionally identified as the manger.

“The angel’s song of glory, joy and peace seems to be detonated after an exhausting year full of tears, bloodshed, suffering, in addition to shattered hopes and shattered plans for peace and justice,” the patriarch began in his homily. .

However, “we are called by the angels tonight to live in faith and hope,” he added.

“The Child of Bethlehem takes us by the hand tonight and leads us with him into history,” he continued. “He accompanies us so that we make our history to the end and go through it with the peace of trust and hope in him.”

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And then, he said, the task of Christians in the Holy Land is to “walk the alternative paths that the Lord shows you. We must find suitable spaces where new styles of reconciliation and fraternity can be born and grow. We must make our families and our communities cradles of justice and peace.”

That’s why, concluded Pizzaballa, “it’s this year, here it makes even more sense to hear the song of the angels announcing the joy of Christ’s birth! The voice of that song rings powerfully through the tears of those who suffer, encouraging us to make revenge powerless through forgiveness.”

In Bethlehem, the darkness of the night was again pierced by the singing of the Glory and the ringing of the bells announcing the coming of the Savior.

“Take courage!” urged the patriarch. “We must not lose hope. Let us renew our trust in God. He never leaves us alone. And here, in Bethlehem, we celebrate God-with-us and the place where He made Himself known.”

Born and raised in Italy, Marinella Bandini is a professional journalist since 2008. She works for several press agencies and online newspapers in the Catholic space. Currently based in Jerusalem, she collaborates with the Custody of the Holy Land.