In Bethlehem, under the vault of heaven in which the star of the Nativity shone more than two thousand years ago, the lights of the Christmas tree were turned on. The lighting ceremony took place on Saturday, December 4, with the participation of numerous faithful in the square in front of the Basilica of the Nativity. LIYA SABBAGH Village of Al-Baqa’a "We have been trapped for two years due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Today we came to celebrate at the Church of the Nativity. What better way to celebrate the coming of Christmas than to light the Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity! Best wishes to all." JERIES KHASHIBON Tour Guide "150 people came with us to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree in the City of Peace and visit the churches in Bethlehem, the city of Christmas!" ANTON SALMAN Mayor of Bethlehem "Our message to the world is always one of love, hope and optimism. For this Christmas, the motto of the Municipality of Bethlehem and Palestine is "The Joy of the Star of Bethlehem." During the evening there were also performances and Christmas carols. The Academy for the Performing Arts of the John Paul II Foundation in Bethlehem presented the "Story of the Nativity" through the performance of pieces of opera. Pilgrims and tourists from abroad were absent, and hundreds of reservations were cancelled due to restrictions caused by the pandemic. ANTON SALMAN Mayor of Bethlehem "The current situation is not favorable for tourism. We were expecting a recovery, but everything has stopped again, due to the international situation. Our wish is that the "good news" will continue to spread around the world and everyone will soon be able to return to their lives." The now traditional lighting of the Christmas tree was also held in Jerusalem, at the Terra Sancta School. His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, also took part in the ceremony on November 28, the first Sunday of Advent. HB PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "Bethlehem and Jerusalem have always been united and will keep united. From Jerusalem and Bethlehem we say the same thing: Jesus is our Lord, our King, and we want to enjoy and be proud to be Christians, and children of God." Also present at the event were the Apostolic Nuncio in Jerusalem and Palestine, Monsignor Adolfo Tito Ilana, Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, and representatives of various religious orders. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Director of the Schools of the Holy Land "The beauty of these events is the participation of so many people together, Christians and Muslims, without differences: this is Jerusalem. In the city of the three religions, this possible coexistence is taking place before our eyes." The light and the message of the Christmas tree have somehow dissipated the hardships caused by the pandemic. HB PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "If we look to Jesus, there is room for Hope!"