Christmas celebrations are cautiously resuming in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, following two years of cancellations due to conflict. The return of festivities, marked by events like a tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, signals a hopeful, though subdued, return of life to the city. Bethlehem's economy, heavily reliant on tourism and religious pilgrims (around 80% of residents), suffered a severe downturn after the war in Gaza began in October 2023. Unemployment in the city surged from 14 percent to 65 percent, causing significant poverty and emigration. Local officials view the return of visitors as crucial for reviving the local economy, which experiences a significant ripple effect from tourism spending.
7 days ago
Christmas festivities in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, resumed on December 6, 2025, with the lighting of a 65-foot tree in Manger Square after two years of cancellations due to the Israel-Hamas war.1 2 This marked the first major public event since December 2022, drawing thousands of mostly local residents amid festive lights, music, and a Nativity scene, though on a smaller scale than pre-war years.2 3 Neighboring towns like Beit Jala and Beit Sahour planned similar tree lightings in the following days, signaling a broader revival in the region.3
Bethlehem's economy, heavily reliant on tourism with 80% of its Muslim-majority residents depending on it, suffered immensely during the war, with unemployment surging from 14% to 65% and poverty rates soaring.1 The conflict following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack led to canceled celebrations and a near-total halt in visitors, causing about 4,000 people to leave for work elsewhere.1 Post-ceasefire in October 2025, tourist numbers began recovering, with November visits at their highest since the war and hotels anticipating 70% occupancy over Christmas, mainly from Arab Israelis and early international pilgrims.1 2 3
Residents and officials viewed the tree lighting as a symbol of resilience and life's return, with Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati emphasizing it as a message of Palestinian love for life and hope for peace.1 3 Families gathered in Manger Square, children played among vendors, and "Santas" distributed treats, creating a sense of normalcy despite scaled-back events.1 2 Local businesses, like John Juka's family restaurant opened in 1979, reopened in August as visitors felt safer, fostering cautious optimism.1
International pilgrims, though few, described the visit as a profound privilege, with Ukrainian visitors like Nataly Taratuta and Anna Tverdokhlib praying in the Church of the Nativity's grotto for peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and the world.2 Italian pilgrim Jean Luca highlighted the event's importance as a beacon of hope uniting people of different faiths post-war.2 Local teacher Nadeera Sleibi stressed that Christmas's spiritual joy, as the arrival of the Prince of Peace, persists regardless of conflict.2
Despite the ceasefire, the West Bank remains tense, with Israeli military operations, checkpoints delaying travel, and settler attacks at record highs since 2006.1 On December 6, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians at a Hebron checkpoint, and resident Issa Montas expressed frustration over unchecked violence.1 In Gaza, a bomb exploded 200 meters from Holy Family Church—the area's only Catholic parish—on the same day, with no injuries but echoing prior attacks that injured priest Father Gabriel Romanelli in July.3 These incidents underscore the fragile peace, as Bethlehem's celebrations contrast with nearby echoes of war.3
Organizers like Ranya Malki Bandak of the Bethlehem Peace Center rushed preparations despite Gaza's turmoil, aiming to "light a candle" for hope and expecting more tourists from February 2026.2 The events promote unity across Christians, Muslims, and Jews, with Montas noting Christmas as a shared celebration.1 A UN report highlighted the West Bank's worst economic downturn on record, but leaders see these festivities as steps toward broader stability.1
How does the Catholic Church sustain pilgrimages amid regional conflict?
The Catholic Church has long viewed pilgrimages, particularly to the Holy Land, as essential acts of faith that connect believers to the sacred sites of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Even amid regional conflicts that threaten access and safety, the Church sustains these journeys through a combination of historical resilience, institutional dedication by religious orders, papal advocacy for peace, financial and spiritual support for local communities, and the transformative power of prayer. This commitment not only preserves the physical and spiritual infrastructure of holy sites but also transforms pilgrimages into prophetic gestures of hope and reconciliation, drawing from centuries of tradition while addressing contemporary challenges in places like Palestine and Israel.
Pilgrimages to the Holy Land have persisted through eras of turmoil, demonstrating the Church's unwavering dedication to these sacred journeys as expressions of devotion and penance. From the early Middle Ages, Western Christians braved significant dangers to visit the Holy Sepulchre, viewing it as the most venerable relic despite threats from invading forces. For instance, by the 11th century, the rise of the Seljukian Turks had compromised pilgrim safety, capturing key cities like Jerusalem in 1070 and Antioch in 1084, yet "whole armies of pilgrims traversed Europe," establishing hospices along routes like the Danube for provisions. This era saw even humble men and women undertaking the "holy journey," often at great personal risk, underscoring a collective resolve that predates modern conflicts.
The Church has also defended the legitimacy of such pilgrimages against critics, ensuring they remain free from scandal and aligned with doctrine. In the ninth century, Bishop Jonas of Orleans countered opposition to holy images and pilgrimages, a stance echoed in later councils like those of Cabilone (813) and Bourges (1584), which addressed abuses while affirming their value. Even in the 16th century, amid rumors of heresy and Inquisition scrutiny, figures like Andreas Vesalius undertook pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Mount Sinai as acts of religious penance, motivated by "strong religious feeling" rather than coercion. These historical precedents illustrate how the Church has embedded pilgrimages in its spiritual fabric, viewing them as indispensable even when external pressures—political, military, or theological—intensify.
Central to sustaining pilgrimages amid conflict is the dedicated work of religious orders and local Christian communities, who maintain and animate the holy sites as living testaments to faith. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land, alongside Eastern Churches, play a pivotal role in preserving sanctuaries that mark Jesus' earthly steps, ensuring they remain accessible as "signs of the memory" of divine incarnation. This ongoing effort allows pilgrimages to continue, not just for Catholics but across Christian traditions, fostering a shared heritage that transcends denominational lines.
In conflict zones, these communities bear witness through suffering, becoming "lamps shining in the night" and "seeds of goodness" in divided lands. Pope Francis has highlighted how the Christian presence in the Holy Land guards salvation's places while enduring the "mystery of the Lord’s Passion," rising anew to proclaim resurrection amid "dark clouds" of war. Episcopal coordination efforts, such as those by bishops' conferences from Europe and North America, emphasize solidarity visits to parishes, encouraging global Catholics to pilgrimage not only to ancient sites but to living communities facing isolation and poverty. For example, in Bethlehem, initiatives like the Caritas Baby Hospital—supported by international dioceses—provide concrete services, enabling pilgrims to engage with the Church's humanitarian mission. This local-global partnership ensures that sites like the Basilica of the Nativity remain vibrant, even as barriers like separation walls exacerbate humanitarian crises and economic devastation.
Popes have consistently promoted pilgrimages as pathways to peace, framing them as pilgrim acts that invoke divine intervention and human reconciliation in war-torn regions. Pope John Paul II described pilgrimages to sites like Hebron—shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—as "prophetic gestures of peace," calling for universal journeys to Rome and Jerusalem as poles of hope during jubilees. Similarly, during the 1950 Holy Year, Pope Pius XII noted the "admirable prodigy of fraternal concord" among pilgrims flocking to Rome, urging this unity to counter global preparations for war and foster Christian love.
In the Holy Land specifically, papal visits model endurance: Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 pilgrimage included Eucharistic celebrations in Jerusalem's Josaphat Valley, meditating on Christ's Resurrection as a "force of hope and peace," and in Bethlehem, comforting Gaza faithful amid precariousness and emigration. He prayed for families in Nazareth to rediscover serenity, highlighting non-violent paths inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis, reflecting on his 2014 journey, invited Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the Vatican for joint prayer, emphasizing that peace is "crafted by hand" through humility and fraternity across cultures and religions. Ten years later, amid escalating violence, he reiterated the urgency of such invocations, linking them to the 2025 Jubilee themed "Pilgrims of Hope," where pilgrims become bearers of Christ's hope in fearful times. These initiatives sustain pilgrimages by anointing participants with the Holy Spirit, turning them into "craftsmen of peace" who support refugees and ease Middle East tensions.
The Church bolsters pilgrimages via fervent prayer and appeals for resources, addressing both spiritual desolation and practical needs in conflict areas. Popes have repeatedly called for public prayers to halt hostilities and protect Holy Places, as Pius XII did in 1948, decrying the "devastation" of sacred sites by troops and bombings, and urging settlement under the Virgin's auspices for justice and concord. He insisted on free access for pilgrims to profess devotion without fear, objecting to any profanation by worldly activities. John Paul II echoed this in 1986, stressing that true faith reveres human life and rejects war's evils, advocating dialogue over arms in line with Vatican II's humanitarian conventions.
Contemporary appeals, like the 2024 collection for Holy Land Christians, invoke Pope Francis's cries against violence—"The weapons must stop; they will never bring peace!"—while sustaining Franciscan efforts to animate sanctuaries. Bishops' communiques from 2008 urged nations to avoid siding in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, promoting pilgrimages that build human contact and interreligious cooperation among youth at places like Bethlehem University. During Holy Week 2024, Francis addressed local Catholics as enduring witnesses, their resilience proclaiming redemption amid global folly of war. A 1987 address by John Paul II celebrated pilgrimages as thanksgiving for peace treaties, like between Argentina and Chile, extending this to Holy Land aspirations.
In essence, the Catholic Church sustains pilgrimages amid regional conflict by weaving together historical tenacity, custodial care, papal leadership, and communal prayer into a tapestry of hope. This approach not only keeps sacred paths open but elevates them as instruments of peace, inviting all to journey as pilgrims who heal divisions through faith. As conflicts persist, the Church's fidelity reminds us that these holy travels, though challenged, remain vital signs of God's redemptive presence in a fractured world.