The Church of the Nativity, where Catholics believe Jesus was born, was set to host Palestinian dignitaries and pilgrims from around the world for a midnight Mass. Uniformed Palestinian scouts wearing yellow and gold capes and playing drums and bagpipes paraded past assembled visitors in Manger Square, bedecked with a large Christmas tree. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head Catholic cleric in Israel and the West Bank, crossed an army checkpoint from Jerusalem to Bethlehem ahead of the holiday prayers, where he was greeted by prominent members of Bethlehem’s Catholic community.

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