VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In the moments before Pope Francis’ arrival at the Paul VI Hall on Saturday (Dec. 7), a final addition was made to a nativity scene gifted by Palestinian artists: A keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered scarf that has come to represent the Palestinian cause, was placed on the manger beneath the baby Jesus. Sitting in his wheelchair, Pope Francis was led to the nativity scene where he prayed in silence, before making an imp…

Religion News Service

United States

Latest Vatican mystery surrounds missing keffiyeh from Palestinian nativity

After the display raised a few eyebrows, the Vatican appears to have removed a Nativity scene that showed baby Jesus lying on a keffiyeh, the traditional scarf used as a national symbol by Palestinians that anti-Israel activists have donned at their protests.

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The Christian Post

Vatican removes Palestinian keffiyeh Nativity scene amid backlash

Jesus depicted on a keffiyeh scarf, considered a Palestinian national symbol, has disappeared from a Vatican nativity scene. Officials have not given a reason, but the scene has been widely criticized in the media, and the pope has been accused of partisanship and distorting history.

Jezus przedstawiony na chuście kefiji, uważanej za palestyński symbol narodowy, zniknął z watykańskiej szopki bożonarodzeniowej. Urzędnicy nie podali powodu, ale szopka została szeroko skrytykowana w mediach, a papieża oskarżono o stronnictwo i zakłamywanie historii.

Element szopki usunięty. Na Watykan spadła fala krytyki

Polsat News

Nativity scene element removed. Vatican faces wave of criticism

Vatican Media Pope Francis stops for a brief prayer in front of the Bethlehem Nativity in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall during its presentation and a meeting with some of the people involved in its creation on Dec. 7, 2024. Johny Andonia, a 39-year-old artist from Bethlehem who led the project, said it is just a symbol to represent or show the 'existence' of Palestinians.

National Catholic Register

EWTN

Bethlehem Artist Defends Presence of Palestinian Keffiyeh in Nativity Scene After Backlash

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday alongside a Palestinian-crafted Nativity scene that was missing its eyebrow-raising signature element: a keffiyeh-draped manger holding the infant Jesus. The wooden Nativity scene in the Vatican’s main audience hall had generated headlines when it was unveiled December 7 because of the…

BusinessMirror

Vatican’s keffiyeh Nativity scene disappears–at least until Christmas Eve

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday alongside a Palestinian-crafted Nativity scene that was missing its eyebrow-raising signature element: a keffiyeh-draped manger holding the infant Jesus.

Antelope Valley Press

Keffiyeh Nativity scene raises eyebrows, vanishes

Pope Francis stops for a brief prayer in front of the Bethlehem Nativity in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall during its presentation and a meeting with some of the people involved in its creation on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media  Vatican City, Dec 13, 2024 / 12:50 pm (CNA). A Nativity scene made by artisans from Bethlehem was the source of controversy this week for including a Palestinian keffiyeh with the child Jesus in the manger — but accor…

Catholic News Agency

Bethlehem artist defends Palestinian keffiyeh in Nativity scene

The Nativity scene featuring a keffiyeh that was unveiled at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on December 7 was designed by Palestinian artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi of Bethlehem. (© Vatican Media)On December 7, Pope Francis attended the opening of Nativity of Bethlehem 2024, a nativity scene exhibition in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. One scene featured olive wood sculptures of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph designed by Johny Andonia a…

Hyperallergic

Nativity Scenes Have Never Been Neutral

We receive and publish the following letter by Roberto Giordano Anguilla, Deputy Mayor of Lecce [IPN] Lecce, Dec. 13 — We must not forget the importance of the Nativity, its suggestive emotional charge and the reference to the traditional values of the family. Yes, the family understood as an agent of socialization and a tool for cohesion between beings who love each other and do not appear isolated to the complexity of life. Christmas, fatally,…

Riceviamo e pubblichiamo il seguente scritto di Roberto Giordano Anguilla, vicesindaco di Lecce [IPN] Lecce, 13 dic – Non va dimenticata l’importanza della Natività, della sua suggestiva carica emotiva ed il rimando ai valori tradizionali della famiglia. Già, la famiglia intesa come agente di socializzazione e strumento per la coesione tra esseri che si amano e non si presentano isolati alla complessità della vita. Il Natale, fatalmente, ci port…

Latest Vatican mystery surrounds missing keffiyeh from Palestinian nativity

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