Pope Francis and the Holy See drew polarized reactions across the globe after unveiling a Nativity scene featuring a wood-carved infant Jesus laying on a keffiyeh in his manger last Saturday, December 7. The symbol of solidarity with Palestine, which sparked both praise and outrage internationally, has since disappeared from the scene along with the entire manger and model of baby Jesus as of today, December 11.
Initially reported by Christian and Italian news outlets, the removal of the manger, baby Jesus, and the keffiyeh was first observed during Pope Francis’s general audience at Paul VI Hall, where only the carved figures of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and some surrounding stuffed sheep remain.
The Nativity was designed by Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, two Palestinian artists from the city of Bethlehem in the Occupied West Bank, and carved by Bethlehem artist Peter Khano from a single olive tree per cultural tradition. It was a joint gift to the Vatican from Dar al-Kalima University, the Palestinian Embassy at the Holy See, and the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine.
The scene’s removal came after an outpouring of online criticism about the keffiyeh’s inclusion from pro-Israel entities, with netizens, organizations, and outlets alike accusing the Vatican of blasphemy by distorting or misrepresenting the identity of Jesus Christ as Palestinian instead of Jewish. One user on X commented that using the keffiyeh, “a garment that represents violence to Jews,” turned the Nativity scene into a site of hate for Jewish people.
It’s worth noting that the Vatican and many Christians abide by the tradition of waiting until Christmas Eve to put the model of baby Jesus in his manger in their respective Nativity scenes; however, the manger itself is usually left empty until Christmas rather than omitted overall.
“What we know is that there were some complaints about the keffiyeh, which led the Vatican to remove it,” artist Nastas Mitwasi told Hyperallergic.
Nastas Mitwasi explained that she and Andonia had started curating the Nativity project in March 2023, and that the idea to add the keffiyeh to the manger emerged from the installation team during the setup at Paul VI Hall.
“This Nativity Scene is a gift from the Palestinian people to the Vatican, representing us, the Palestinians,” Nastas Mitwasi said. “We used materials from our land that reflect our cultural heritage and identity: olive wood, olive tree, wool from local sheep, and so on. The keffiyeh is part of our national identity.”
“While it is true that the keffiyeh is not a religious symbol — it does not represent Islam or Christianity — it does represent national identity,” she continued. “I believe the person who added the keffiyeh was a proud individual who wanted to express pride in their national identity.”
Hyperallergic has reached out to the Vatican for comment.
Pope Francis, who has used his platform to acknowledge the death and suffering in Gaza and advocate for peace throughout the region on multiple occasions, drew outrage last month after calling for an investigation into Israel’s attacks to determine whether they constitute genocide. He has twice met with the families of hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, and with some of the freed hostages after their release as well.
The keffiyeh, a cultural garment tied to Palestinian identity and broader Arab heritage, has been at the center of controversy in the last year. The Noguchi Museum in New York City recently barred its employees from wearing the scarf, calling it an example of “political dress” that could cause discomfort to visitors. The policy sparked various protests in solidarity with four museum staff members who were terminated after they refused to comply with it. Weeks after the 2023 attack, Christie’s auction house in London pulled two paintings by Lebanese artist Ayman Baalbaki from its Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale after multiple complaints — though his portrayal of a keffiyeh in one painting is related to experiences of loss and displacement due to the Lebanese Civil War.
Nastas Mitwasi underscored that the keffiyeh is not a symbol of violence, and said that those who view it as such “need to learn more about Palestinian history and culture.”
“I am proud that Christianity began in my hometown, and I consider the Nativity story a local story to me. As a Christian Palestinian, I should have the freedom to create my Nativity scene and use any Palestinian symbol that I find suitable,” Nastas Mitwasi said.
“I do not understand why some people were upset,” she continued. “The sculpture is peaceful, representing our Palestinian Nativity scene with Palestinian elements. For those who are upset, I ask: Why are Palestinians not allowed to express their identity through their art? What do they expect us to do? What kind of art do they expect us to do?”
Editor’s note 12/12/24 11:35am EST: This article was updated with quotes from Faten Nastas Mitwasi.
