Christ's birthplace to get a boost

Church of the Nativity gets large Vatican donation

Children pose with a snowman outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem Jan. 9 during a rare cold spell. CNS photo / Marcin Mazur, Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

Catholic News Agency is reporting that the Vatican promised to donate 100,000 Euros, worth about $135,500, to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during a recent visit by Church officials to the Holy Land.

The Vatican delegation, which included Undersecretary for Relations with States Bishop Ettore Balestrero, made the pledge to repair the world's oldest church after meeting with the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, according to Ma'an news outlet.

The talks on the 1,700 year-old church also included Palestinian Authority adviser on Christian Affairs, Ziad Bandak. It was built in 399 over a cave, is believed to be the true birthplace of Jesus, and was rebuilt after a fire in the sixth century. Over 2 million people visit the Church of the Nativity every year.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.