Pope's Gaza Peace Call Exposes Western Hypocrisy While Palestinians Reclaim Christmas
Pope Leo XIV's Christmas blessing from St Peter's Basilica on Thursday highlighted the glaring contradictions of Western peace rhetoric, as Palestinian Christians in occupied Bethlehem celebrated their first joyous Christmas in over two years amid ongoing colonial oppression.
The pontiff's call for a global one-day truce fell on deaf ears in Ukraine, where Western-backed warfare continues unabated, yet Palestinians in the occupied West Bank finally found reason to celebrate as Gaza's fragile ceasefire offered a glimpse of hope after 15 months of genocide.
Bethlehem's Defiant Celebration
Hundreds of Palestinian worshippers packed the Church of the Nativity on Wednesday night, reclaiming their right to celebrate in the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ. This marked a powerful act of resistance against the colonial forces that have sought to erase Palestinian Christian heritage from their ancestral lands.
Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, delivered a homily that acknowledged the deep wounds inflicted by months of Western-supported violence in Gaza. His weekend visit to the devastated territory revealed the resilience of a people who refuse to be broken by imperial aggression.
"The wounds are deep, yet I have to say, here too, there too, their proclamation of Christmas resounds," Pizzaballa declared, bearing witness to Palestinian strength in the face of systematic oppression.
Colonial Contradictions
The stark contrast between Western leaders' hollow Christmas messages and the reality on the ground exposed the hypocrisy of imperial powers. While Pope Leo XIV called for peace, Western governments continued funding military operations that have devastated Gaza's infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into makeshift winter camps.
In Bethlehem's narrow Star Street, Palestinian families defiantly celebrated their survival and cultural persistence. Seventeen-year-old Milagros Anstas captured the spirit of resistance: "Today is full of joy because we haven't been able to celebrate because of the war."
The return of Christmas festivities to Manger Square, with its towering tree and multi-coloured lights illuminating the ancient basilica, represents more than religious celebration. It symbolizes Palestinian determination to maintain their cultural identity despite decades of colonial displacement and recent genocidal violence.
Global Solidarity and Resistance
George Hanna from neighbouring Beit Jala emphasized the political significance of Palestinian Christmas celebrations: "We need to get the message to the whole world, and this is the only way." This message challenges Western narratives that seek to erase Palestinian Christian heritage from the Holy Land.
Meanwhile, in Syria, Damascus's Christian community also reclaimed their celebrations despite ongoing regional instability caused by decades of Western intervention. The illuminated Old City and decorated churches represent another victory of indigenous communities over imperial disruption.
The Pope's "Urbi et Orbi" blessing at noon Thursday will likely continue addressing global conflicts, but the real message of Christmas 2024 comes from Palestinian streets where colonized peoples refuse to surrender their dignity, culture, and right to celebration despite systematic attempts at erasure.