VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In the moments before Pope Francis’ arrival at the Paul VI Hall on Saturday (Dec. 7), a final addition was made to a nativity scene gifted by Palestinian artists: A keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered scarf that has come to represent the Palestinian cause, was placed on the manger beneath the baby Jesus.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Pope Francis was led to the nativity scene where he prayed in silence, before making an impassioned speech for peace in the Middle East. “With tears in our eyes, let us raise our prayer for peace. Brothers and sisters, enough war, enough violence!” the pope said, while looking at the nativity scene.
“The keffiyeh was added at the last minute during the installation phase,” said Faten Nastas Mitwasi, one of the two Palestinian-born artists at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem overseeing the project, alongside Johny Andonia. In an interview with RNS on Thursday (Dec. 12), she said that while it was not their initial intention to turn the nativity into a political statement, they welcomed the final addition of the keffiyeh as a symbol of national identity.
The latest Vatican intrigue revolves around the sudden appearance and even more sudden disappearance of that keffiyeh at the Vatican, but it also highlights the challenges Pope Francis faces as he attempts to navigate a c …