Jesus Christ's birth site to be restored for first time in 600 years

Christians take an annual pilgrimage to the site in the West Bank, identified by many as the birthplace of Christ.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land has now announced the joint undertaking alongside the Vatican.

A joint statement said: "This project embodies a unified Christian commitment to preserve the spiritual, historical, and cultural patrimony of the Holy Grotto for future generations."

The Vatican announced the same Italian company that restored the Basilica of the Nativity, which houses the grotto, will carry out the restoration.

The company, Piacenti SpA, is based in Prato, Tuscany, central Italy.

In 2017, its CEO, Giammarco Piacenti, told the Associated Press that the work on the basilica was amongst the most satisfying of the restorers’ careers because "they are touching heaven with their fingers."

President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas called the renovation "a sign of great hope and rebirth for the whole Holy Land."

The renovations will be targeting the bare rock, the marble floors, columns, decorations, and the star marking the exact spot where Jesus was born.

The project also includes technical reinforcement measures in adjacent sections.

Officials said the renovation "reflects both the architectural unity of the sanctuary and the spirit of cooperation that preserves it for all humanity".

The statement about the project pledges to: "Uphold the dignity of a site where the Christian proclamation took visible form and where the faithful of every nation have gathered in pilgrimage throughout the centuries.

"In the Grotto, the mystery of the Incarnation entered history, and the Christian confession received its earthly beginning.

"To restore this holy place is to safeguard the continuity of faith, memory, and devotion in the land of the Nativity,” the statement explains.

"Through this collective effort, the Churches of Jerusalem protect the Gospel heritage entrusted to them and ensure that the faithful of all traditions may continue to venerate the birthplace of Christ with reverence.

"From Bethlehem, the light of the Nativity continues to illuminate the world, bearing witness to the enduring Christian presence in the Holy Land and to the hope that radiates from the sacred cave where the Savior was born."

Last month, for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza, Bethlehem lit up its Christmas tree, marking festive celebrations in the town.

The town itself has faced rising unemployment due to a drop in pilgrimages following Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, causing a knock-on effect on tourism.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati told the BBC: "It's been a bad two years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no work. We're all living here from tourism and tourism was down to zero.

"Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it's appropriate. But deep inside my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to do because Christmas should never be stopped or cancelled. This is the light of hope for us."

A tourism guide in the town, Hamza, expressed concern over news coverage dissuading Christians from travelling.

He said: "This is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life. We hope to have people coming back like before: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We start with the Christmas tree lighting, and we'll wait."

Alaa Salameh, a restaurant owner in the town centre, lamented the struggles of families living in the West Bank.

He said: "We're preparing for Christmas after one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as Christians. Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation. Someone who wants to take his kids to a festival or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration."