Castel Gandolfo: the Mexican Nativity Scene in the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo

An outpouring of warmth, faith and popular tradition surrounds the great Christmas tree placed at the center of the Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo. Hand-modeled terracotta figures recall the birth of Jesus. It is a Mexican nativity scene, with an essential number of characters: the Child, Mary, Joseph, the three Magi, a shepherd, and an angel. They have simple yet highly expressive forms: faces absorbed in contemplation of the mystery, all leaning toward the manger surrounded by the ox and the donkey.

The terracotta statues seem to emerge directly from a carpet of leaves and branches, as if the earth itself had decided to tell the story of Christmas. Around the Child, everything vibrates with light and movement. The color of the terracotta is broken up by white elements that trace the outlines of the figures’ garments and highlight their expressions. Alongside the traditional ox and donkey are a sheep and a ram which, also lying on the ground, appear to frame the central scene. The Nativity is not isolated, but immersed in everyday life, where the passing of days intertwines with the redemptive work of Christ.

This nativity scene invites participation: to look, to feel, to recognize the birth of the Savior in simple matter, in hand-shaped earth, in shared joy and celebration.