Vatican to finance renovation of Nativity Church

Palestine and the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem Thursday signed a $500,000 agreement for the restoration of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.Ziad Bandak, who heads the presidential committee overseeing the church renovation, signed the agreement with Sami Yousef, the regional director of the Pontifical Mission.“The agreement is signed to secure another financial contribution for the Church of the Nativity Restoration Fund,” said Bandak. “We have been offered pledges to receive more financial contributions in order to carry the restoration process that approximately requires $20 million.”Bandak noted that his committee has so far secured approximately $6 million for the restoration, adding that President Mahmoud Abbas is personally following up on the restoration process.The Palestinian Authority offered $1 million in 2009 and about $900,000 donation was made by the Palestinian private sector.“The support we are offering comes as part of the efforts exerted for reinforcing the presence of the Christians, who form a part and parcel of the Palestinian people, and safeguarding the religious sites, in this case the Church of the Nativity, one of the most significant churches worldwide,” said Yousef.