Louis Michel, the Catholic owner of St. Patrick Store, another Bethlehem shop that sells Christian merchandise, from locally made olive-wood nativity scenes and gold crosses to votive candles and ...

The scene, carved in wood from olive trees, was designed by Palestinian artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, both natives of Bethlehem.

That Baby Jesus with outstretched arms, carved from olive wood from the Holy Land by Bethlehem's master craftsmen, has now been placed in the nativity scene without the kefiah. In the Paul VI Hall ...

Created by Bethlehem artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, the nativity scene prominently features Palestinian materials, including olive wood, a symbol of Palestinian resilience.

Israel's minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism asked Pope Francis to clarify his remarks about the need to investigate whether the current war in Gaza constitutes a genocide.

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2024 / 12:50 pm 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 ...

Some evidence shows that the use of olive wood in Bethlehem dates back to the fourth century during the construction of the Basilica of the Nativity, Adonia said.

A nativity scene at the Vatican depicting baby Jesus wrapped in a Palestinian keffiyeh has been removed after sparking backlash. Pope Francis unveiled the display last Saturday as part of the annual ...

Photo: Mitri Raheb. The Vatican’s nativity scene contains figures carved from olive wood and a mother-of-pearl Star of Bethlehem that were created by Palestinian artists and craftspeople.

Pope Francis prays before the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” in the Paul VI Hall on Dec. 7, 2024. (Credit: Vatican Media.) Listen ROME – In the wake of global controversy over a Nativity scene ...

Pope Francis and the Holy See drew polarized reactions across the globe after unveiling a Nativity scene featuring a wood-carved infant Jesus laying on a keffiyeh in his manger last Saturday ...

The figures were made of olive wood, the large Star of mother-of-pearl, and other elements with various materials used for the artistic craftsmanship of Bethlehem: ceramics, fabric, wool.