World
Photos: Thousands descend upon Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas
1000’s of Christians from all around the world have made a pilgrimage to Bethlehem within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution to have a good time Christmas, the pageant marking the start of Jesus Christ.
The return of Christmas tourism after two years of COVID-related restrictions lent the city a festive air, as worshippers gathered close to the Church of the Nativity to go to the grotto the place Christian devoted consider Jesus was born.
A standard procession set off from Jerusalem at midday (10:00 GMT) on Saturday and arrived within the small city within the afternoon.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa led the procession, passing by way of a checkpoint in Israel’s separation wall within the occupied West Financial institution.
“We live in very tough challenges,” he stated in his sermon on the church, citing the Israeli-Palestinian battle and the warfare in Ukraine. “However the message of Christmas is a message of peace.”