While the Church of the Nativity was well filled with expatriates living in Palestine and Israel, no pilgrim or tourist could come from abroad. Israel has closed access to travelers because of the Covid-19.
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The Manger Square in Bethlehem in the West Bank is still sparse on Friday evening, December 24. Street vendors, restaurateurs and souvenir vendors are still not found there. “The gros problem is that there are no tourists. The people who live here don’t buy a lot. Christmas is a bit sad this year. We are alone. It’s very difficult”. Tourists are indeed conspicuous by their absence, Israel having restricted access to the country due to the resurgence of the Covid pandemic.
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On the other hand, the Basilica is almost full. A thousand faithful and masked and vaccinated officials follow the homily of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, which begins with a beautiful slip by addressing: “Your Excellency Mohammad Shtayyeh Prime Minister of the State of Isr … Of the State of Palestine …” And to continue unperturbed: “We still miss the pilgrims so we pray for them and ask them to pray for us. Even if this pandemic continues, we must find a way to continue to live and work.”
Father David, one of his collaborators, reminds us that faced with political or health difficulties, we must listen to the Christmas message: “Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph teach us these external difficulties, which absolutely need to be treated, help us to discover what is good now. There are very powerful things that are in each of us . It is love between people, the will to continue, to take care of each other “.
Jochen, a German studying in Jerusalem, feels lucky to have been able to attend the ceremony:“I’m really happy to be there to party with my friends, see the site, it’s wonderful here. It’s the first time I’m here for Christmas. It’s very special to be where it actually happened. “ Last night the majority of the parishioners were Palestinians and they sang in Arabic: “The Messiah is born, alleluia!”