Palestinian President Abbas launches Nativity Grotto restoration in Rome, signaling hope amid crisis; plans Midnight Mass return after two-year absence.
Newsroom (10/11/2025 Gaudium Press )Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the launch of a new restoration phase on the Grotto of the Nativity during his official visit to Rome on November 6 and 7, marking a pivotal step in preserving Bethlehem’s sacred heritage amid ongoing regional challenges.
Abbas, who met with Pope Leo XIV, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, inaugurated the “Bethlehem Reborn” exhibition at the same event. The display chronicles a decade of restoration efforts on the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through photographs, models, videos, and archival documents. Initiated in 2013 under Palestinian Authority supervision and in collaboration with Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Churches, the project has already revitalized the basilica’s mosaics, roof, frescoes, and stained-glass windows, reversing centuries of damage.
The new phase, authorized by presidential decree, targets the Grotto of the Nativity — the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ — which has seen no major interventions in over 600 years. Focus will center on preserving walls and floors, stabilizing internal structures, and ensuring safe, dignified access for global pilgrims. Local artisans and workers in Bethlehem will undertake the project, providing critical economic support to families battered by crisis and a sharp decline in religious tourism.
“Resuming the work is a sign of hope and rebirth for the Holy Land. I am very happy about it,” Abbas told Father Ibrahim Faltas of the Custody of the Holy Land.
The exhibition, which has toured multiple countries promoting unity and peace, underscores interfaith cooperation in safeguarding this universal site. Its Rome presentation highlights Bethlehem’s enduring spiritual ties to Christianity’s core.
Abbas also revealed plans to attend Midnight Mass in Bethlehem on December 24, ending a two-year absence prompted by regional instability. Traditionally, he joins Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian communities in Christmas observances. The past two years have seen subdued celebrations in Bethlehem, with darkened streets, absent pilgrims, and pervasive hardship due to violence in Gaza, West Bank restrictions, and poverty in Jerusalem. Local Christians, however, maintained fervent faith through sober prayer.
Father Faltas framed the initiative as a broader call to action: “The care given to a place so important to Christianity is also a call to care for life, dignity, and peace. We ask the international community for the same care for the innocent and defenseless of the Holy Land and the world.”
In a meditative reflection, Faltas invoked the Gospel: “Jesus was born poor, in the cold and darkness of a cave, surrounded by the love of Mary and Joseph. His long-awaited light immediately spread throughout the world.” He described the restoration as a beacon for peace and reconciliation, urging that “care, attention, and love for humanity become a true sign of hope and peace.”
This endeavor blends cultural, spiritual, and political dimensions, affirming the Holy Land’s fragility where faith, memory, and present tensions intersect. By bolstering this shared heritage, authorities seek to foster mutual understanding and respect among regional peoples, including Israel, positioning Bethlehem — birthplace of the Prince of Peace — as a symbol of fraternity and reconciliation.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Tribune Chretienne
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