PLO official thanks Pope Francis for his “unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.”

Joel Kontinen

A Nativity scene featuring baby Jesus in a keffiyeh-wrapped cradle was unveiled by the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday.

The display, which was created by two artists from Bethlehem, Johnny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, depicted Jesus laying on top of the checkered black and white scarf that is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.

The scene erased the historical fact that Jesus was born to two Jewish parents in the then-Roman district of Judea.

Speaking at the scene, Pope Francis said that the Nativity exhibit is a reminder for the world to “remember the brothers and sisters, who, right there [in Bethlehem] and in other parts of the world, are suffering from the tragedy of war.”

He then slammed the international arms trade and added, “enough war, enough violence!”

On Sunday, Pope Francis hosted PLO executive committee member Ramzi Khouri at the Vatican.

Khouri is a close confidant of Holocaust-denying and terror-funding Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

During their meeting, Khouri expressed “deep gratitude for the Pope’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and his tireless efforts to end the war on Gaza and promote justice.”

In November, Pope Francis supported the allegation that Israel’s war against the Hamas terror group constitues a genocide.

“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” he wrote.

“It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”

In a letter to Middle Eastern Catholics released on the first anniversary of the October 7th terror onslaught, Pope Francis did not mention Jesus n the Hamas terror group or condemn their atrocities for the outbreak of the war.

Rather, Pope Francis addressed the “people of Gaza, long embattled and in dire straits. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily.”

He did not acknowledge the Israelis displaced from their homes or suffering near-daily bombing by the Hezbollah terror group.

But the Pope did not rely on what the Bible teaches. that Jesus was a Jew, born of Jewish parents

Source: 

World Israel News Staff 2024  Vatican Nativity scene features 'Palestinian,' keffiyeh-clad Jesus | World Israel News December 9

 

The Pope and the Big Bang

Pope Benedict XVI. Image courtesy of Fabio Pozzebom, Agência Brasil, via Wikipedia.




Joel Kontinen

When the Pope says that the universe is not the result of random processes, his statement makes headlines all over the world.

As reported by Reuters, Pope Benedict XVI said in his Epiphany sermon on Thursday:

“God's mind was behind complex scientific theories such as the Big Bang, and Christians should reject the idea that the universe came into being by accident. The universe is not the result of chance, as some would want to make us believe."

While many Christians might equate the big bang with the initial creation event mentioned in Genesis, the Bible’s account differs considerably from the secular view of how the universe came into being. The most conspicuous differences are the time scale and the order of events. Exodus 20:11 states:

“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them.”

In the space of six days God created everything there is. God is a God of miracles. In the New Testament He instantaneously turned water into wine and created new cells for Lazarus in no time at all.

In other words, God did not need 13.7 billion years to create the cosmos. The belief in millions of years of earth history would mean that death was not the result of Adam’s sin. In effect it would elevate fallible man’s opinion over that what God says in the Bible.


Source:

Pullella, Philip. 2011. God was behind Big Bang, universe no accident: Pope Yahoo! NEWS (6 January).

The Pope’s Epiphany Message: Harmony Between Reason and Faith, Science and Revelation

Pope Benedict XVI. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.



Joel Kontinen

In his Epiphany message, Pope Benedict XVI discussed the relationship between reason and faith. He pointed out that the Magi who travelled from the East to adore the newborn King were learned men but they did not despise God’s revelation. They were obviously honest seekers of the truth.

The Magi were humble. They did not allow their presuppositions to cloud their understanding and did thus not dismiss the idea that they would find the King not in Herod’s palace but in a more humble habitation.

Pope Benedict XVI generalises this attitude to the relationship of science and revelation. He did not mention naturalistic interpretations of science that attempt to expel the Creator from science, though.

The Vatican has not always taken a clear stand for creation; for instance Pope John Paul II said that evolution was ”more than a theory”.

However, adding a theistic component to an otherwise atheistic model does not sanctify Darwinism.

Faith and reason are not opposites. The universe and everything in it, including you and me, appear to be designed. The obvious interpretation is that it is – and we are – designed.

In contrast, some naturalistic interpretations of science, such as the belief that nothing gave birth to everything by pure chance, are absurd.


Source:

Vatican Information Service, 7 January 2009.