Speaking to Catholic media outlet CathoBel Dean Benoît Lobet of Brussels-Central says he fully supports the design of the Nativity on Brussels’ historic market square aka the Grote Markt. The nativity scene does not detract from Christian values but symbolises the thousands of people who have to survive on the streets, the cleric noted.
Religion & Philosophy
Dean of Brussels rushes to the defence of faceless nativity figures on Grote Markt
Colin Clapson
Published:
The Roman Catholic community in Brussels, speaking through Lobet, is responding for the first time to the commotion that has arisen since the nativity scene was erected on the market square last week. It has caused quite a controversy: everyone seems to have strong opinions about the faceless figures on display on Brussels' Grand Place.
On X Francophone liberal leader Georges-Louis Bouchez called the dolls ‘zombies’. Flemish Christian democrat leader Sammy Mahdi also spoke out, saying the discussion is important and is ‘about how we deal with our traditions’.
The dean told Catholic media outlet CathoBel that he fully supports the design of the nativity scene. "When I hear Mr Bouchez say that he sees something in the figures that resembles the zombies around the South Station, he is doing us a service. (..) At Christmas, we wanted to remind people that around 9,000 people sleep on the streets in the capital, including children,‘ the dean told CathoBel. ’Helping the vulnerable is a Christian value."
According to Lobet, the church community fully supports the “faceless” figures created by artist Victoria-Maria Geyer. Lobet explains that the choice of “faceless figures” was inspired by “the idea that when there are no faces, it forces the viewer to help create the nativity scene, to be present themselves”.