"Our society is strong despite all the difficulties," said His Beatitude Mgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, upon his arrival in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. The procession of cars had departed from Jerusalem earlier in the day, as the entrance into the city where Jesus was born marks the beginning of the Christmas celebrations. The Patriarch was received by civil and religious authorities, but without the traditional crowd of visitors and pilgrims from different parts of the world, due to the restrictions imposed this year by the Coronavirus pandemic. HB Mgr PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "It is a time when we are unable to celebrate Christmas worthily anywhere in the world because of the restrictions imposed by Covid. This certainly creates a lot of sadness, but we must not give up. We celebrate the birth of Christ, the victory of Christ over all forms of fear. We have had a terrible year, but this Christmas is the beginning of a new world, it is a new beginning that we sorely need." Some groups of scouts and Christians from Bethlehem participated in the square in the Manger, in front of the Basilica of the Nativity, in the celebration in anticipation of Christmas and the welcoming of the new Patriarch. In the Church of St. Catherine, near the Grotto where Jesus was born, a few minutes after midnight begins as per tradition the celebration of Christmas Eve, with Vespers and immediately after the solemn mass presided by His Beatitude Monsignor Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Due to restrictions the celebration accommodates a small number of people, but the intensity and emotion of the moment is still great. This year, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is not attending the celebration, although other government authorities are present. In his homily, entitled: "The people who walked in darkness saw a great light...", the Patriarch reflects on the difficulties of the moment, but also intends to bring hope, citing the promises of God present in the readings of this night. Pizzaballa said: "Under the heavy burden of this pandemic that is blocking our lives, paralyzing the relationships, putting a strain on politics, economy, culture and society, we all feel obscured, tired, exhausted, oppressed for too long. However - he continued - in my first Christmas Mass as Patriarch, I do not want to tune my voice to those who can well describe the night. I must, I want to give voice to the prophecy, make me echo of the Gospel, communicate you the grace of this hour". At the end of the Homily the Patriarch recites a moving prayer: "To him, mighty God, we ask to defeat sickness, evil and death and give us back happy and serene days. To him, our Savior and Lord, we promise to give all that we are and have, so that still and always "his way may be known on earth and his salvation among all peoples" (cf. Ps 67:3). Amen". Eventually everyone goes in procession to the Grotto of the Nativity to venerate the birthplace of Jesus. In the Grotto, the first celebration, at midnight, was presided over by Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land. A number of Masses were also celebrated at the Shepherds' Field, including one presided over by Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Delegate for Palestine. At the end, Mgr. Girelli went on a pilgrimage from the village of Beit Sahour to the Grotto of the Nativity. A different Christmas, but full of meaning in the essence of Christmas.