Pope Francis's latest blunder: Jesus was Palestinian

The Vatican raised eyebrows Saturday with its latest artistic interpretation of Jesus's birth - one that appears to prioritize contemporary political messaging over historical accuracy.

In a ceremony at Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis unveiled a nativity scene featuring the infant Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh, the traditional Arab headdress that has become a symbol of Palestinian nationalism. The display was organized by the Palestine Liberation Organization's Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, with PLO executive committee member Ramzi Khouri prominently featured at the dedication.

The deliberate portrayal of Jesus - a Jewish baby born to Jewish parents in ancient Judea - in Palestinian nationalist garb feels particularly tone-deaf given current tensions.

During the ceremony, two Arab children presented the pope with a "Star of Bethlehem" plaque bearing peace messages in Arabic and Latin. The PLO's Khouri used the platform to praise what he called the pope's "tireless efforts" regarding Gaza, while conveying greetings from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The display's unveiling comes just weeks after Francis drew criticism for suggesting Israel's defensive actions in Gaza might constitute genocide - a loaded term that Jewish leaders felt was inappropriately and harmfully applied.

Also – while nativity scenes often reflect the artistic styles of their creators, there's a difference between cultural interpretation and political manipulation of historical fact. Jesus's Jewish identity isn't a matter of debate - it's documented historical fact, not to mention the fact that the Pope's blatant one-sided bias is becoming hard to tolerate.

The Vatican has not responded to requests for comment about the historical implications of the display.