At a Glance
- Thousands gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square after two years of muted celebrations.
- Pope Leo XIV presides over his first Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
- 80% of Bethlehem’s residents rely on tourism; unemployment jumped from 14% to 65%.
- Why it matters: The revival of holiday spirit offers a rare glimpse of hope amid ongoing conflict.
The night before Christmas, Bethlehem’s Manger Square filled with families and visitors, marking the first vibrant celebration since the Gaza war disrupted the city’s holiday traditions.
Bethlehem’s Return to Festivity
The giant Christmas tree replaced the wartime nativity scene of a baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa opened the festivities with a procession from Jerusalem, calling for a “Christmas full of light.”
- The tree symbolized a break from the war-scarred past.
- A pre-Christmas Mass in Gaza’s tiny Christian community preceded the procession.
- Pizzaballa urged all to become the light of Bethlehem and the world.
Pizzaballa stated:
> “We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world.”
Papal Midnight Mass
Pope Leo XIV delivered a homily that praised the “wisdom” of the Christmas story, noting that in the face of the suffering of the poor, God sends a defenseless child to rise again. The Mass drew an estimated 6,000 worshippers inside St. Peter’s and 5,000 outside on the piazza.
Pope Leo XIV remarked:
> “In the face of the suffering of the poor, (God) sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again.”
Regional and Global Context
The war’s impact is still felt: around 80% of Bethlehem’s residents depend on tourism, and the unemployment rate surged from 14% to 65%. About 4,000 people have left the city seeking work, and Christians make up less than 2% of the West Bank’s 3 million residents.
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 14% | 65% |
| Tourism Dependence | 80% | – |
Tensions remain high with Israeli military raids and settler attacks reaching their highest level since 2006. In neighboring regions, Christmas celebrations continue: Santas in Nazareth, a live Nativity in Gaza’s only Catholic church, and a neon-lit tree lit by congregants in Damascus after a 25-person suicide attack.
Georgette Jackaman said:
> “Today is a day of joy, a day of hope, the beginning of the return of normal life here.”
Mona Riewer from France added:
> “Christmas is like hope in very dark situations.”
Key Takeaways
- Bethlehem’s Manger Square bursts into life, marking a return to holiday tradition.
- Pope Leo XIV delivers his first Midnight Mass, emphasizing hope amid suffering.
- The war has devastated Bethlehem’s economy, with unemployment soaring to 65% and tourism still fragile.
The celebrations in Bethlehem and Rome offer a poignant reminder that even in conflict, moments of collective hope can illuminate the darkest times.
