Monday, February 17, 2025

Popular News

HomeNewsVaticanChristmas tree set up in St. Peter's Square

Christmas tree set up in St. Peter’s Square

A 4.5 tonne Christmas tree was put up in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday morning. The 23metre high tree travelled from the northern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, more specifically, from Pordenone.

The Christmas tree, along with a life-sized nativity scene (which this year is being sculpted from sand) have been tradition since 1982, when John Paul II was Pope. The tradition of erecting a Christmas Tree was celebrated in northern Europe and it was celebrated in Poland, Pope John Paul II’s country of origin, but until then, there had been no Christmas trees in the Vatican.

That year, Pope John Paul II received a Christmas tree as a gift, from a Polish farmer, who had brought it all the way to Rome. Since then, the offering of the Christmas Tree to th Pope has become an honour, and each year the Vatican accepts a tree donated by a different European country or region.

Last year’s tree came from Poland, and the decorations were made and gifted to Pope Francis by children from several departments of oncology around Italy as well as from areas that had been hit by earthquakes.

This year’s tree will be inaugurated on the 7th of December, and its lights will stay on until January 13th of the new year.

Popular News

Pope receives Slovakian Prime Minister

On Friday morning, Pope Francis welcomed the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, to...

Pope highlights continued relevance of ‘Gaudium et spes’

In an audience with members of the Gaudium Et Spes Foundation, Pope Francis emphasizes...

Pope has slight fever, begins pharmacological treatment for respiratory tract infection

The Holy See Press Office says Pope Francis has undergone tests and has begun...

Justice and Peace Promoters meet in Rome for week of formation

Focusing on the theme “JPIC Mission: Pilgrims of Hope for systemic transformation for the...