The Cardinal President and the Secretary General preside at a ceremony for the inauguration of the Nativity Scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree in Saint Peter’s Square
Lights, music and art to announce the birth of Jesus
Christmas music, melodies and lights brightened the darkness of the night. The much-anticipated moment has arrived, when people can admire the nativity scene and see the Christmas tree lights in Saint Peter’s Square. Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sr. Raffaella Petrini, respectively, President and Secretary General, of the Governorate of Vatican City State, inaugurated the nativity scene from Grado and lit the 29-metre red fir Christmas tree, from Ledro, during a ceremony on Saturday evening, 7 December before a crowd of people.
After the Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps played the Pontifical Anthem, Cardinal Vérgez Alzaga offered a few words of welcome. The Civic Band of the City of Grado played a popular song dedicated to the Madonnina del mare, (Our Lady of the Sea), which was followed by a greeting from Archbishop Carlo Maria Redaelli of Gorizia, and a speech from Mr. Antonio Boemo, coordinator and promoter of the project for the nativity scene.
As the ceremony continued, a Band from Ledro played Adeste Fideles, and Archbishop Lauro Tisi of Trent spoke about the bond between Ledro, the Czech Republic and Romania. Mr. Renato Girardi, Mayor of Ledro, then delivered his address. After delivering her address, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate, initiated the unveiling of the nativity scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree, as the Band of the Gendarmerie Corps played White Christmas. The City of Grado Civic Band and the Band of Ledro then took turns playing, When the Saints go Marching in, the Anthem of Trentino, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Aleutrenses and Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
Earlier, in the morning, the Delegations of Donors were received in audience by Pope Francis, in the Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father inaugurated the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024”, a series of depictions of the Nativity, made in Bethlehem by local artisans. Representatives of the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See attended the inauguration.
The following are the addresses of the Cardinal President and Sr. Raffaella Petrini:
I offer a cordial greeting to Msgr. Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli and Msgr. Lauro Tisi, respectively, Archbishop of Gorizia, and Archbishop of Trent,
I also greet Mr. Mauro Bordin, President of the Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region,
Mr. Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Region of Trent,
Giuseppe Corbatto, Mayor of Grado,
and Renato Girardi, Mayor of Ledro,
along with all those in charge of the Committees that promoted the initiative, among them, Msgr. Paolo Nutarelli and Antonio Boemo,
I greet all of you gathered here,
We are in front of two wonders: the nativity scene from Grado and the tree from Ledro, which we will inaugurate and light up for the Christmas of our Lord.
This year the solemnity of Christmas coincides with the opening of the Holy Door in the Basilica of Saint Peter, with which the Jubilee will be inaugurated. The tree and the nativity scene will have even greater visibility, due to the greater number of pilgrims expected to visit throughout the Holy Year.
The nativity scene and the tree are a homage to the birth of Jesus. They are a witness of the faith and affection of the People of God towards their Saviour. Ever since Christmas Eve of 1223, when Saint Francis of Assisi replicated the scene of the Nativity, involving the town’s people, nativity scenes have become typical of Christmas. They remind us of the birth of the Son of God, who took on our same flesh and became one of us.
Meanwhile, the tree is a sign of the light that Christ came to bring to the world. It enhances the value of life because fir trees remain green even through winter. They don’t wither and die.
Those who will visit the nativity scene and the tree will thus find two elements that immediately recall Christ’s coming to the world, with his light, his peace and his saving mercy. To pause in admiration before these traditional representations, is a way to introduce ourselves to the mystery of Christmas, and draw closer to the source of mercy, to the wonder of a birth that overturned the world.
The nativity scene is a traditional replica of the island of the Sun, with the celebrated event, “Nadal de oro” in which more than 100 nativity scenes are displayed. The birth of Jesus is set inside a casone in Grado Lagoon, amid many details, including local vegetation and fauna. The casone is set on a “mota”, a small lagoon island, and is a replica of the traditional huts of the fishermen of Grado, made with wood and swamp reeds. The scene also includes the batele, traditional flat-bottomed boats, and the briccole, posts that indicated the canals that were safe to navigate and the direction to the Island of Barbana and to Venice.
I know the city of Grado very well. I have been there on several occasions, as well as to your Lagoon, the Island and the Sanctuary of Barbana. I used to go there with a group of friends from Friuli, who would stop the boat to sing your hymn, “Madonnina del mare” (Our Lady of the Sea), in front of the Statue Our Lady.
As for the choice of the red fir tree from Ledro, a municipality with a population of roughly 5,000 people, in Trentino Alto-Adige, the initiative involved associations, citizens, neighbouring municipalities and also twin cities in Germany and in the Czech Republic. The decorations were made by volunteers, who worked selflessly, an expression of sharing and solidarity that is typical of the Ledro Valley.
I would like to highlight that the tree was chosen in respect of sustainability requirements, by selecting a tree whose removal represented a natural exchange.
Thank you to all of you and to your families. Happy Christmas to all of you.
ADDRESS OF SR. RAFFAELLA PETRINI, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE GOVERNORATE OF VATICAN CITY STATE, FOR THE INAUGURATION OF THE NATIVITY SCENE AND THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN SAINT PETER’S SQUARE, 7 DECEMBER 2024
Firstly, I would like to greet Msgr. Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli and Msgr. Lauro Tisi, respectively, Archbishop of Gorizia, and Archbishop of Trent,
I also greet Mauro Bordin, President of the Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Province of Trent,
Giuseppe Corbatto, Mayor of Grado,
Renato Girardi, Mayor of Ledro,
along with all the people in charge of the Committees that promoted the initiative,
I greet all of you here,
Wonder and joy are what we feel every time we see a depiction of the birth of Jesus, just like the citizens of Greccio felt, before the first nativity scene ever made, by Saint Francis in 1223. Saint Francis wanted to recall the moments in which the Saviour was born into the world, and bring the faithful closer to the mystery of the Incarnation. It was like removing the barriers of time and space, in order to experience what the shepherds, invited by the angels, had felt on the night in which Jesus was born in a cave in Bethlehem.
We too tonight want to set ourselves on a journey to contemplate the humility of the Son of God, who took on our flesh and, defenceless, entrusted himself to the care of Mary and Joseph. We do so as pilgrims of hope, as the Jubilee Year is about to begin, drawing near to this wonderful and evocative nativity scene from Grado.
The nativity scene is a symbol of life and of joy over the birth of a Child, the fulfilment of the redemption of humanity.
As is the Christmas tree, the fir tree from Ledro, which we will light tonight here in Saint Peter’s Square, a place which is visited by millions of faithful from around the world, and which is expected to draw even more visitors during the Jubilee. With its evergreen leaves, the tree is a significant symbol of the Nativity of Christ, that reminds us of the life that does not die. The tree and the nativity scene represent the traditional elements of Christmastime, part of the spiritual heritage of our communities.
Amid the many gifts that are exchanged during this season, Jesus is God’s gift to humanity. A gift that no one can buy or get for themselves because it comes from the Heart of Christ, from that heart that “is seen as the privileged sign of the inmost being of the incarnate Son and his love, both divine and human”, as Pope Francis reminded us in his recent Encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos (48).
From the Heart of Christ to the Heart of the Mother. This year, the nativity scene is even more linked to Mary because it reproduces the famous island in Grado Lagoon, where the Sanctuary of Barbana is located, one of the oldest places of worship dedicated to the Mother of God. It is a sanctuary that marks the protection and motherly closeness of Our Lady to her children, throughout the centuries. The presence of the Virgin Mary is even more fundamental in this year’s Nativity Scene because it is intertwined with faith and the popular tradition of the people of Grado.
As it is for all Christian communities spread throughout the world, linked to the Virgin Mary by affection and profound veneration. I would also like to mention the devotion of the people of Trent to Our Lady of Pinè, worshipped in the Marian Sanctuary of Trent.
Mary is invoked as Gate of Heaven ever since she replied to the Archangel Gabriel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Mary is the Gate of Heaven because she introduces us to her Son’s mercy. The Virgin Mary’s role in the upcoming Jubilee is fundamental because all of us who will walk through the Holy Door, will be able to draw from Christ’s mercy. And it is precisely his Mother, Gate of Heaven, who made redemption possible by transmitting her flesh to the son of God.
I conclude by thanking everyone who contributed to making the nativity scene and the Christmas tree, expressions of the passion and availability of the people of Grado and Ledro, in cooperation with the staff of the Directorate for Infrastructures and Services, represented here by its Director, Mr. Salvatore Farina, and by many valuable collaborators of the Governorate.
Happy Advent and Happy Christmas to everyone. Thank you.
