Vatican city: President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, inaugurated the exhibition 'Bethlehem Reborn' at the Vatican yesterday. The event was organized in cooperation between the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine and the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, President Abbas emphasized the significance of restoring the Church of the Nativity for the Palestinian people, identifying it as a symbol of their steadfastness and Christian heritage in their homeland. He also announced a new project to restore the Grotto of the Nativity, supervised by the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs.
Ramzi Khouri, Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, highlighted that 'Bethlehem Reborn' conveys a universal message of love and peace from the City of the Nativity. Khouri announced the commencement of the restoration of the Grotto of the Nativity, untouched for over six centuries, under the Committee's supervision. This effort symbolizes the unity of the three Churches that jointly administer the Church of the Nativity and reflects Palestinians' determination to preserve their sacred heritage.
Palestine's Ambassador to the Holy See, Issa Kassissieh, noted the symbolic bond between the Vatican and the Church of the Nativity. The exhibition calls for global pilgrimage to Bethlehem, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and their Christian heritage.
The opening ceremony included a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Shomali and priests at San Salvatore in Lauro Church in Rome, organized by the Palestinian Embassy to the Holy See and the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs. The Mass marked the tenth anniversary of the canonization of Palestinian saints Mariam Baouardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas, attended by ambassadors, Vatican officials, and distinguished guests.
Archbishop Shomali highlighted the canonization's significance for the Palestinian people and called for peace in the Holy Land. He invited worshippers to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity during the Holy Jubilee celebrations.
The exhibition showcases the Church of the Nativity's restoration, emphasizing Palestine's cultural and humanitarian message. It features paintings, documents, photographs, and films tracing the restoration's stages, symbolizing the Palestinian people's resilience.
The exhibition includes architectural models, mosaic panels, and cultural programs engaging visitors with Palestinian Christianity's history. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land contributed artifacts, enriching the exhibition's narrative.
Notable attendees included Ziad Abu Amr, Majdi Khaldi, Ambassador Mona Abu Amara, Father Ibrahim Faltas, Ambassador Amira Hanania, and Ambassador Khouloud Daibes. The exhibition, under the Dicastery for Evangelization's patronage for the Holy Jubilee Year 2025, is organized with the Bethlehem Development Foundation, the Vatican Museums, and the Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni Association.
The exhibition is supported by the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, Bank of Palestine, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Brunello Cucinelli, Piacenti Company, and the Palestine Investment Fund, with Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni hosting it in Rome's museums.
