As a souvenir of the pilgrimage of Paul VI, the first Pope who came to Bethlehem, the main trading street which crosses the town from the east to the west, from Manger Square to the Bab Izqaq crossroad, was given his name. On entering the street from Manger Square, one encounters a museum of traditional clothes and heritage items belonging to the Arab Women’s Union, called Our Old Bethlehem Home. Heading out of the museum one comes to Star Square. From there climb the stairs that lead, to the left, to Bethlehem’s marketplace, which was once located on Manger square and attracted a lot of peasants and Bedouins from all around the region, and which moved to its present location in 1929.

Continue along the street to reach Al-Fawaghreh Quarter and the Salesian Convent. Some 50 metres further one will come to the Lutheran Church on the left and the Salesian Technical School to the right. At the end of Paul VI Street one encounters the impressive building of the Holy Family Hospital and Church run by the Sisters of Charity, who also manage the adjoining crèche. The Hospital is only a few metres away from Bab Izqaq, the other end of this busy thoroughfare.

From Bethlehem 2000, A Guide to Bethlehem and its Surroundings by Sawsan and Qustandi Shomali.