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Photo of Baby Jesus on a Keffiyeh Featured in Vatican Nativity Scene

By JNS

The Vatican’s “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” in the Paul VI Hall includes a photo of the infant Jesus lying on a keffiyeh scarf that was presented by representatives from the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See. (Photo Credit: Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images/jns.org)

Monday, 9 December 2024 | A nativity scene that went on display at the Vatican on Saturday features a photo of the infant Jesus on a keffiyeh.

The traditional Arab scarf has been adopted by Palestinians as a symbol of their national aspirations. The image comes at a time when a revisionist Palestinian narrative has set in whereby Jesus is a Palestinian.

The photograph was presented to the Vatican by representatives from the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See on the inauguration of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,” displayed in the Paul VI Hall, Vatican News reported.

The pre-Christmas event came just weeks after the Catholic leader called for an international investigation to determine if Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza constituted genocide.

(This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on December 8, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

https://www.jns.org/photo-of-baby-jesus-on-a-keffiyeh-featured-in-vatican-nativity-scene/