On Thursday 5 December, at 16:30, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, respectively president and secretary general of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, will inaugurate the nativity scene and the illumination of the Christmas tree in Saint Peter’s Square.

On the same day the gift to the Holy Father will also be exhibited in the Paul VI Hall: an artistic nativity scene made by the volunteers of the “Gruppo Presepio Artistico Paré di Conegliano”, which for almost fifteen years has been making artistic nativity scenes of various atmospheres and inspiration in the premises of the Beata Vergine Maria di Fatima parish.

The Nativity scene of the Paul VI Hall will be full of references to the Italian region of Veneto: the Holy Family will find hospitality in the nineteenth century Casera di Malga Fittanze, in Verona. The Lessinia, a region of the Veronese province, with its large stables characterized by pointed Gothic arches, will represent the humble grotto where the Saviour was born, represented (like all the characters) by entirely hand-carved wooden statues, 120 cm high. They are true works of art conceived from the experience of the masters of Ortisei in Val Gardena, Bolzano, who pass from generation to generation their knowledge of sculpture, painting and tailoring.

The artistic lighting system will have a low environmental impact and will be functional to the scenes due to LEDs that are adjustable in terms of light intensity, colour temperature and lighting times.

Like the tree and the nativity scene in Saint Peter’s Square, the crèche in the Paul VI Hall will remain on display until 12 January 2020.