Khaberni - Representing King Abdullah II, the Minister of Interior Mazen Al-Faraya participated in the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the city of Bethlehem, celebrating the arrival of Christmas for the Christian denominations that follow the Western calendar.
The Vice President of Palestine Hussein Al-Sheikh attended the mass on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, along with several Palestinian political figures, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, and diplomats from around the world.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem and Jordan and all the Holy Lands, Pierre Baptista Pizzaballa, delivered the midnight mass sermon at the Church of Saint Catherine (Church of the Nativity), during which he called for peace, love, and tolerance among humanity for the sake of living in security, peace, and prosperity, urging followers of the three religions to lean towards faith, love, peace, and tolerance instead of hatred, spite, and conflict.
At the beginning of his sermon, Patriarch Pizzaballa thanked His Majesty the King and his representative, Minister Al-Faraya, for attending this great event, appreciating His Majesty’s stances and his ongoing efforts in aiding the people of Gaza Strip, and his continuous support for the Christian and Islamic holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
He emphasized in his sermon that the light of Bethlehem will never go out, and will remain a beacon of love, tolerance, and peace, calling everyone in the world and the region to work towards halting wars, conflicts, and disputes, and to take responsibility in bringing about peace and ending the suffering of the people of Gaza Strip and its children who have been subjected to starvation, fear, sadness, and troubles over the past days, months, and years.
