When asked by Catholic media, the church does not offer a reason for taking down display created by Palestinian artists and dedicated by pope The post Vatican nativity scene showing baby Jesus on a keffiyeh removed after backlash appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The Nativity scene, crafted by two Palestinian artists, drew online criticism about the headscarf’s inclusion from pro-Israel entities.

Pope Francis presided over his weekly general audience Wednesday alongside a Palestinian-crafted Nativity scene that was missing its eyebrow-raising signature element: a keffiyeh-draped manger holding the infant Jesus.

Pope Francis unveiled on Saturday the annual nativity scene at the Vatican, which this year featured baby Jesus draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh.

Pope Francis created an uproar when he was seen with a controversial nativity scene at the Vatican over the weekend. The wooden display showed the baby Jesus lying on a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. The 87-year-old pontiff was seen on Saturday afternoon praying before the nativity display while sitting in a wheelchair.

Pope Francis publicly showed off the Vatican's 2024 Christmas decorations: a Nativity scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter's Sq

The pro-Palestinian creche is intended to point out the disconnect between the idealized Bethlehem of most representations and the reality in present-day Gaza and the West Bank.