Overview
- The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land announced the project with the Vatican, with cooperation reported from the Armenian Patriarchate and Palestinian authorities.
- Piacenti SpA of Prato, which previously restored the Basilica of the Nativity, was selected to carry out the grotto works after preliminary preparations were completed.
- The plan targets the grotto’s exposed rock, marble floors, columns, decorative elements, and the 14‑pointed silver star, with technical reinforcement in adjacent sections.
- Church leaders cast the effort as a unified commitment to safeguard the grotto’s spiritual, historical, and cultural patrimony for future generations.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the project as a sign of hope, as Bethlehem contends with a tourism downturn and a cautious return of pilgrims.