In a special ceremony at the Council of Europe's headquarters in Strasbourg, an Austrian delegation has handed the Light of Peace of Bethlehem to the organisation's Deputy Secretary General. The Bethlehem Light of Peace is an Austrian tradition dating back almost 40 years: every year and shortly before the Christmas celebrations, a candle is lit on the eternal flame in the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem by a child from Upper Austria (Oberösterreich). This candle is then transported, in a special lantern, to Austria via Austrian Airlines, then relayed around the world.
Receiving the Peace Light of Bethlehem, Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge emphasised that the light has been carried from the Church of the Nativity in Israel to Austria over the course of four decades now. "It has visited countries throughout the world raising awareness and support for children with disabilities and people in need, as well as spreading the message of hope and peace that is at the heart of the Christmas celebrations. This year, we really need the peace light to burn brighter than ever", he said.
The Light of Peace of Bethlehem symbolises the moment of rapprochement between peoples, between religions and represents the desire, the will and the responsibility to build peace. This year, a delegation made up of 130 people, made up of three classes of Austrian students, accompanied by a choir from the Hausruck and led by Member of the European Parliament Angelika Winzig, will hand over the Light of Peace from Bethlehem for the first time to the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge. Also present at the ceremony was the Permanent Representative of Austria, Aloisia Wörgetter and the Permanent Representative of Lichtenstein, Domenik Wanger, who currently chairs the Committee of Ministers.
