Vatican Removes Controversial ‘Keffiyeh’ Nativity Scene Amid Backlash
Days after the Vatican unveiled a new nativity scene featuring Jesus lying on a keffiyeh, a type and pattern of scarf used by Palestinians as a national symbol, the controversial display has been removed without further word or explanation.
The nativity scene organized as a joint partnership between the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, an arm of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Vatican’s Palestinian embassy, garnered significant backlash since its introduction on December 7. It appeared weeks after Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether or not Israel was committing genocide in the Middle East. According to the AP:
By Wednesday, when Francis was seen again in the audience hall, the keffiyeh, manger and infant Jesus had been removed from the Nativity scene, while the figures of parents Mary and Joseph remained. While it is tradition in the Vatican for the infant Jesus to only be placed in the manger on Dec. 24, when Catholics celebrate the birth of Jesus, often the mangers remain in the scenes empty until that date.
The Christ figure had apparently been placed in the manger on Dec. 7 to show off the finished product while the donors, artisans and pope were there to see it.
A Palestinian official said the Vatican had removed the keffiyeh without explanation, and it was unclear whether it would be restored on Dec. 24.
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Probably an accident or the pope didn’t know what it was. If you search “Keffiyeh” in image search, sometimes they’re black and white, sometimes red and white, sometimes all white, etc. Any blanket with a black and white or red and white design could be labelled as one by someone looking for one. At least it wasn’t the unmistakable Star of Remphan!