A Nativity scene displayed at the Vatican that depicted the infant Jesus resting upon a Palestinian keffiyeh has now been removed after causing significant controversy.
When the scene was unveiled on 7 December in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall, the placing of the infant Jesus upon a piece of cloth that serves as the traditional Palestinian head dress lead many to interpret the gesture as a political statement on the part of the Holy See. The black-and-white chequered keffiyeh is widely seen as a pro-Palestinian symbol.
The Nativity scene, designed by two artists from the Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, was described by the Palestine Chronicle as “a poignant nod to the Palestinian struggle”, yet received blowback from the Israeli and Jewish communities.
The backlash began after the Pope on 7 December met with the donors of this year’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene displayed in St. Peter’s Square.
During Saturday’s audience, the Pope called for an end to war and conflict, asking believers to “remember the brothers and sisters, who, right there [in Bethlehem] and in other parts of the world, are suffering from the tragedy of war”.
“Enough war, enough violence!” he said, while lamenting the commercial arms trade and describing how the weapons industry “earns money to kill”.
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