BETHLEHEM, President Mahmoud Abbas attended the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass last night in the Church of Saint Catherine adjacent to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, celebrated by the Roman Catholic Christian denominations in Palestine.

The Mass was led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, along with a handful of bishops, priests, monks and nuns and deacons.

Patriarch Pizzaballa said during the Mass that Bethlehem is united this day with its Muslims and Christians, and is experiencing times of joy on Christmas despite the difficulties that the city and the rest of the Holy Land are going through.

He stressed that the political, economic and social difficulties that Palestine is going through should not lead us to surrender, wishing everyone a Christmas of reassurance and peace.

“Our message is the message of Christ, love and peace to the world,” said Patriarch Pizzaballa.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency