Cardinal David: No world peace amid ‘walls of division’ around Bethlehem

Worshippers pray at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Associated Press Photo/Matias Delacroix)

MANILA, Philippines — There might not be world peace as long as the “walls of division” around Bethlehem remain.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Caloocan City and head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), conveyed this message in a homily during the Christmas Day Mass, highlighting the “unfortunate” current state of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in present-day Palestine.

The transcript of the homily was published on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

“Masaklap na ang Bethlehem ngayon ay pinaikutan ng gubyerno ng Israel ng matataas na pader dahil sa takot nila sa mga Palestinians na nakatira doon,” David said. “Palagay ko, hangga’t may bakod sa paligid ng Bethlehem, hindi darating ang kapayapaan sa daigdig.”

(Sadly, Bethlehem is now surrounded by high walls by the Israeli government because of their fear of the Palestinians who live there. In my opinion, as long as there is a fence around Bethlehem, world peace will not come.)

READ: Bethlehem marks somber Christmas under shadow of war

“Hindi tayo magkakaroon ng kapayapaan sa mundo hangga’t hindi natin natututunang wasakin ang mga pader ng hidwaan at alitan sa isa’t isa batay sa kulay, relihiyon, lahi, kasarian, estado ng kabuhayan atbp.,” David added.

(We will not have peace in the world until we learn to destroy the walls of conflict and conflict with each other based on color, religion, race, gender, economic status, etc.)

David’s previous homilies also tackled the plight of Palestinians, noting that most Filipino Christians are sympathetic to Israel believing that Palestinians are pure Muslims.

Palestinian scouts carry posters, one reads “Peace for Gaza and its people,” while they march during Christmas Eve celebrations at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally recognized by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Associated Press Photo/Nasser Nasser)

During the Christmas Eve Mass, David said in his homily: “Dahil Kristiyano ang nakararami sa atin sa Pilipinas, alam kong mas malaki ang simpatya ng maraming mga Pilipino sa Israel kaysa Palestinians na akala ng marami ay panay mga Muslim. Ewan ko lang kung ramdam ba natin ang pangarap na kapayapaan ng mga taga-Gaza. Siyempre, nangangarap din ng kapayapaan ang Israel, pero paano din sila mapapayapa kung pinaiikutan sila ng mga kaaway?”

(Since most of us in the Philippines are Christians, I know that many Filipinos sympathize with Israel more than Palestinians, who many think are pure Muslims. I just don’t know if we feel the dream of peace of the people of Gaza. Of course, Israel also dreams of peace, but how can they have peace if they are surrounded by enemies?)

“Hindi alam ng marami na ang mga Palestinians sa Gaza ay hindi lahat Muslim; marami ding mga Kristiyano sa kanila, mga Katoliko,” Cardinal David likewise said. “Biktima silang lahat sa patigasan ng paninindigan ng Hamas at ng gubyerno ng Israel.”

(Most Filipinos don’t know that not all Palestinians are Muslims; there are also many Christians among them, Catholics. They are all victims of the hardening stance of Hamas and the Israeli government.)

Palestinians mourn over the bodies of five policemen killed Monday by an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. According to witnesses at the scene, the policemen fired shots to prevent a group of bandits blocking the road from stealing aid from a truck. The Israeli army immediately struck the policemen after that.(Associated Press Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Murals cover Israel’s separation barrier in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Associated Press Photo/Matias Delacroix)

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas gunmen launched a surprise assault on Israel that left 1,200 people, including four Filipinos, dead.

In response to the deadliest attack of the militant group in Israel’s history, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a massive counterattack and ground invasion of Gaza.

Israel bombarded Gaza with daily strikes in the last 14 months amid its war with the Hamas militants, killing thousands, including women and children.

“Ang katuwiran ng Israel ay, dahil ginagawa daw na human shield ng mga Hamas ang mga Palestinian communities sa Gaza. Tinatawag nilang terorista ang paraan ng mga Hamas, pero nagagalit sila kapag tinawag na terorista ang paraan ng gubyerno nila. Gantihan lang,” David said in his Christmas Day Mass homily.

(Israel’s justification is that Hamas uses the Palestinian communities in Gaza as human shields. They consider Hamas’ ways as terrorism, but they get mad when their government’s deeds are called terrorism. Just exchanging vengeance.)

READ: Pope again condemns ‘cruelty’ of Israeli strikes on Gaza

Citing the words of prophet Nathan in the Scripture, David likewise said God promised an Israel where His people could leave with peace and escape slavery.

“Napakalayo na ng Israel na tinutukoy sa pagbasa sa kasalukuyang Israel.  Hindi na Israel na dehado at walang kalaban-laban at kinakawawa ng mga makapangyarihan, kundi Israel na agresibo at llamado sa giyera at suportado ng world powers,” David pointed out.

(The present-day Israel is very far from the Israel being referred to in the readings. It is no longer an Israel who was disadvantaged and disenfranchised, but an Israel who is aggressive and has an advantage in war, being backed by world powers.)

“Sa tingin ko, kung ngayon maghahanap ng pagsisilangan ang Sagrada Pamilya, hindi sila sa Bethlehem kundi sa Gaza strip makikipanuluyan at makahanap ng gumuhong bahay na panganganakan ng anak ng Diyos,” he said.

(I think, if the Holy Family were to find a shelter today, they would not see it in Bethlehem but in the Gaza Strip, where they could stay and find a shelter among the rubble where the Son of God could be born.)