THE VATICAN, November 7, 2025 (WAFA) - 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.
In his opening remarks, President Abbas underscored the profound importance of restoring the Church of the Nativity for the Palestinian people, describing it as a powerful symbol of their steadfastness and their deep-rooted Christian heritage in their homeland.
The President also announced the launch of a new project to restore the Grotto of the Nativity, to be carried out under the supervision of 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, emphasized that “Bethlehem Reborn” carries a universal message of love and peace from the City of the Nativity to the world. He said the exhibition embodies faith and hope that endure despite the hardships facing Palestine.
Khouri announced that the long-awaited restoration of the Grotto of the Nativity—untouched for more than six centuries—will begin under the Committee’s supervision, led by Ambassador Khouloud Daibes. He noted that this spiritual and humanitarian effort reflects the unity of the three Churches that jointly administer the Church of the Nativity and symbolizes the Palestinians’ determination to preserve their sacred heritage and protect their civil and spiritual legacy.
He added that the exhibition serves as a global invitation to pilgrimage to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Holy Land—an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their enduring Christian presence. The exhibition, he said, also strengthens the historic bonds between the Vatican and the Land of the Nativity, reaffirming that Palestine will always remain a beacon of peace, faith, and resilience.
Palestine’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Issa Kassissieh, highlighted the symbolic bond between the Vatican and the Church of the Nativity, noting that the exhibition calls on the world to visit Bethlehem and renew pilgrimage to the birthplace of Jesus, as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their living Christian heritage.
The opening ceremony also featured a solemn Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Shomali and a group of 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 also marked the tenth anniversary of the canonization of the two Palestinian saints, Mariam Baouardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas. The event was attended by ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, senior Vatican officials, and other distinguished guests.
In his homily, Archbishop Shomali welcomed the attendees and reflected on the significance of the canonization of the two Palestinian nuns for the Palestinian people, particularly for its Christian community. He prayed for justice and peace in the Holy Land, which continues to suffer from the consequences of the horrific war in Gaza, and called for building bridges of dialogue based on equality. He also invited worshippers to make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity during the Holy Jubilee celebrations.
The exhibition showcases the comprehensive restoration of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem—one of Christianity’s holiest sites—and conveys a powerful cultural and humanitarian message: that Palestine is not merely a political issue, but a living civilization with a vibrant heritage that continues to thrive despite adversity.
Through paintings, archival documents, photographs, and documentary films, the exhibition traces the stages of restoration that revived the Church’s historical, artistic, and spiritual beauty. It stands as a testament to the Palestinian people’s ability to protect their heritage and identity in the face of attempts at erasure and distortion.
In addition to the main displays, the exhibition features architectural models, mosaic panels, and a diverse cultural program including workshops, film screenings, and storytelling sessions that encourage visitors to engage with the history and culture of Palestinian Christianity.
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land contributed valuable artifacts to the exhibition, including a replica of the Star of the Nativity and the Holy Chalice used by Popes during their pilgrimages to the Holy Land, enriching the exhibition’s spiritual and historical narrative.
Among those attending the inauguration alongside President Abbas and Khouri were Ziad Abu Amr, Member of the PLO Executive Committee; Majdi Khaldi, Diplomatic Adviser to the President; Ambassador Issa Kassissieh, Palestine’s Ambassador to the Holy See; Ambassador Mona Abu Amara, Palestine’s Ambassador to Italy; Father Ibrahim Faltas of the Custody of the Holy Land; Ambassador Amira Hanania, Representative of the Committee in Europe; and Ambassador Khouloud Daibes, Head of the Restoration Committee.
The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Dicastery for Evangelization as part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Jubilee Year 2025. It is organized in partnership with the Bethlehem Development Foundation and in collaboration with the Custody of the Holy Land, the Vatican Museums, and the Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni Association.
The event 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 the exhibition in its museums in Rome.
T.R.
