Press Release – Governorate of Vatican City State

CEREMONY ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE NATIVITY SCENE AND THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN SAINT PETER’S SQUARE

The traditional inauguration of the Nativity scene and lighting of the Christmas tree will take place in Saint Peter's Square on Monday, 15 December, at 17.00. The ceremony will be presided over by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, in the presence of Archbishop Emilio Nappa and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretaries General of the Governorate. In the morning, delegations from the dioceses of Bolzano-Bressanone and Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, with representatives from the municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo and the municipalities of the Agro Nocentino-Sarnese area, will be received in audience by Pope Leo XIV for the official presentation of the gifts.

In the morning, in the Paul VI Hall, Nacimiento Gaudium, the theme chosen by Costa Rica for the Nativity scene, will also be inaugurated. It is a work by the Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz Soto, who wanted not only to emphasize the Christmas message of peace, but also to make an appeal to the world for life to be protected from its very conception.

At the same time, again in the Paul VI Hall, the delegations will be received in audience by Pope Leo XIV for the official presentation of the gifts. The delegation from Costa Rica will be composed of Mrs. Signa Zeicate, First Lady of the Republic of Costa Rica, Miss Isabel Chaves Zeicate, daughter of the President of the Republic, and His Excellency Mr. Federico Zamora, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Holy See.

The afternoon ceremony will be attended by the official delegations of the places of origin of the Nativity scene and the tree in Saint Peter’s Square, from Lagundo and Ultimo, in the diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone, and the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, respectively. In particular, the artistic Nativity scene will be attended by, among others, Bishop Giuseppe Giudice of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, the curator of the project architect Angelo Santitoro, director of the Office of Cultural Heritage and Religious Buildings of the diocese, and the director of the Office of Social Communications of the diocese, Salvatore D’Angelo.

The Bishop of Bolzano-Bressanone, Monsignor Ivo Muser, the Mayor of Lagundo, Alexandra Ganner, and the Mayor of Ultimo, Stefan Schwarz, will be among those participating in the Christmas tree event.

The Nativity scene in Saint Peter's Square was designed and developed in the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno. The scene is set on a 17x12 metre rectangle, with a maximum height of 7.70 metres. It features elements characteristic of the area, such as the Baptistery of Saint Mary Major in Nocera Superiore, the Helvius fountain in Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino and the typical courtyards of the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area, and architectural elements inhabited by Saint Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori, the Servants of God Don Enrico Smaldone and Alfonso Russo, all enriched with symbols and elements that enhance the intangible and food and wine heritage of our land.

Among the scenes, there is a cross-section of the Baptistery on the left and a House of Courtyards on the right. In the foreground is the Helvius fountain, surmounted by the coat of arms with the walnut tree, symbol of the University of Nocera dei Pagani. Each element has a specific meaning and draws the eye towards the centre: the Nativity. The flooring features ancient Roman roads in stone slabs. Life-size shepherds and some animal figures have been anchored to it. The idea was to combine art and spirituality in a setting that recalls faith and tradition.

The structure was provided by the company Seri...A of Nocera Inferiore, with the collaboration of master carpenters from the Avella company, while the scene design was curated by architect Silvio Di Monaco, who has designed film sets. The shepherds were created by master Nativity scene maker Federico Iaccarino of Meta di Sorrento. The activities were coordinated by the Diocesan Technical Office.

The representation of the Nativity in the Paul VI Hall, Nacimiento Gaudium, features a figure of the Virgin Mary in a state of pregnancy and a collection of 28,000 coloured ribbons, each representing a life preserved from abortion thanks to the prayers and support provided by Catholic organizations to many mothers in difficulty.

The nativity scene measures five metres in length, three metres in height and two and a half metres in depth. While respecting tradition — with the presence of Joseph, the Magi, the shepherds and the animals — the work introduces an original element: two different and interchangeable representations of the Virgin Mary.

During Advent, a statue of the pregnant Mary will be displayed, symbolizing expectation and hope; on Christmas Eve, this will be replaced with an image of the Virgin kneeling in adoration of the newborn Child.

The crib of Jesus will also contain 400 ribbons with prayers and wishes written by young patients at the National Children's Hospital in San José. The nativity scene was promoted in collaboration with the Embassy of Costa Rica to the Holy See.

The majestic 25-metre-high spruce tree, weighing 80 quintals, comes from Val d'Ultimo, in the province of Bolzano. It is a gift from the municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo. In addition to the fir tree chosen for the square, forty other smaller trees, purchased from dedicated plantations, will also be brought to the Vatican for use in offices, public places and buildings of the Holy See.

At the end, essential oils will be extracted from the green branches of the fir tree by the Austrian company Wilder Naturprodukte, while the rest of the wood will be donated to a charitable association for recycling in order to respect creation.

The Nativity scenes and the tree in Saint Peter's Square will remain on display until the end of the Christmas season, which coincides with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday 11 January 2026.

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti