Pope Francis and Bethlehem Reverend Condemn Israel-Hamas WarChristmas Messages
Bethlehem Cancels Christmas Celebrations in Mourning for Palestinians Killed in Gaza
- Pope Francis, in his Christmas address, lamented the 'appalling' loss of life in the Israel-Hamas war and called for an end to the military campaign in Gaza.
- Bethlehem, traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus, cancelled all Christmas festivities this year to mourn the more than 20,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza.
- Reverend Munther Isaac at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem delivered a powerful Christmas sermon, 'Christ in the Rubble', condemning the use of theology to justify Israel’s killing of innocent civilians.
- The Pope also called for the release of Israeli hostages and a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by opening the provision of humanitarian aid.
- Fox News reported that the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem could lead to a further exodus of Christians from the city.































