Vatican: A Maltese Nativity Scene and a Christmas Tree from Italy on Saint Peter’s Square

St. Peter's Square on December 2015.

Pope Francis will unveil the nativity scene and Christmas tree on Saint Peter’s Square on December 9, 2016. According to Vatican Radio (November 10, 2016), the crèche was a gift of the Archdiocese and the government of Malta. According to that same source, it will reproduce the landscape of the island and the architecture of the local houses, as well as the flora and fauna. It will be made up of 17 figures—not counting the animals—made of paper mache, and it will be 17 meters wide, 12 meters deep and 8 meters tall [55’ x 39’ x 26’].

As for the Christmas tree, it is 25 meters [82’] tall and comes from the mountainous region of Lagorai, in northern Italy. After it was cut down on November 13, the conifer traveled more than 600 kilometers [37 miles] to reach the Vatican during the night of November 23-24. It will be decorated with clay balls presenting drawings made by children hospitalized in the cancer wards of Italian hospitals. It will be lit by 18,000 LED bulbs.

It will be possible to admire the tree and the nativity scene until January 8, 2017, the Sunday after Epiphany.

(Sources: apic/imedia/radiovatican – DICI no. 345 dated November 25, 2016)