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Christian tradition places the birth of Jesus celebrated in Christmas time in Bethlehem. A holiday also celebrated by many Muslims in this West Bank town, sometimes with Christian pilgrims.
With our correspondent in Bethlehem, Guillaume Delteil
Like every year, in Bethlehem , the midnight mass brought together Palestinian leaders, diplomats and journalists from many countries. During this ceremony, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem appealed for tolerance.
He also delivered his vision of world affairs and more specifically of the troubles in the region . In his homily, Archbishop Pizzabella called on the world to adopt what he called " the style of Bethlehem ", that is to say "to feel as his own [...] the destiny of all men ". This style is lacking in the Holy Land, he judged.
The archbishop in particular denounced the resignation and acceptance in the face of " separations and divisions of our population caused by politics ". The patriarch specifically addressed his thoughts to Christians in the Gaza Strip to whom Israel has this year granted very few permits to come and celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
But " violence and harassment seem to be spoken by all, " said Archbishop Pizzaballa. And to enjoin everyone to accept " the existence of the other, different from us, whether Jewish, Muslim or Christian ".
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Christians and Muslims celebrate Christmas
Many Muslims in Bethlehem also celebrate Christmas. Sometimes even with Christian pilgrims , together. For several hours, the bands of scouts marched from the entrance to the old town to the Basilica of the Nativity. The journey is not very long but the crowd is compact.
“ My family has always wanted someone to come to Bethlehem for Christmas. My parents died, but they were very active. And I was lucky to come. I walk in these streets, I go back in history. I am walking in such a magical place , ”says Liam, who came from Ireland to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem .
For Liam, being there on this day is " a dream come true ." This sixties and his wife Margareth are accompanied by Palestinian friends with whom they live, two young Muslims. “ Here, we have an expression in Arabic, says one of them, Shaza. They say, "In Ramadan, we are all Muslims. At Christmas, we are all Christians. We are all united as Palestinians ."
The muezzin calls the Muslim faithful to prayer as the marching bands advance. In Margareth's eyes, the mixture is harmonious. " Today, all communities are uniting," she says. Christians, Muslims, everyone together. It's a very family atmosphere. And it's so different from Ireland, because there, it has become very commercial. It's about buying gifts . "
For Christmas Eve, Shaza and her sister prepared a traditional Palestinian meal. And to make the party perfect for their guests, they also, for the first time, set up a Christmas tree at their home.
Report: midnight mass at the Vatican 25/12/2019 - by Éric Senanque
On this night, in the beauty of God's love, we also rediscover our own beauty because we are loved by God. In good and in bad, in health and in illness, happy or sad, in his eyes we appear beautiful: not for what we do, but for what we are.
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