Nativity scene, Christmas tree are visible signs of God’s compassion

Dec 15, 2017

By Junno Arocho Esteves
A Nativity scene and Christmas tree, like those displayed in St Peter’s Square, are visible reminders of God’s benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said.

The traditional Christmas displays are “the signs of the heavenly Father’s compassion, of his participation and closeness to humanity who experience not being abandoned in dark times, but instead visited and accompanied them in their difficulties,” the Pope said.

“Every year, the Christmas Nativity scene and tree speak to us through their symbolic language. They make more visible what is captured in the experience of the birth of the Son of God,” Pope Francis said Dec 7 in a meeting with delegations from Poland and Italy, responsible respectively for the 2017 Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity scene.

Pope Francis also thanked the children and told them their ornaments are a personal witness of Jesus “who made himself a child like you to tell you that he loves you.”

“Tonight, when the lights of the nativity scene are turned on and the Christmas tree lights up, even the wishes you have transmitted through your decorative works will be bright and seen by everyone,” he said.

The Christmas tree was adorned with ornaments made by children receiving treatment at several Italian hospitals.

Additionally, children from the central Italian Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia, which was devastated by earthquakes in 2016, also made ornaments for the Christmas tree.

Measuring nearly 33 feet in diameter, the tree was donated by the Archdiocese of Elk, Poland, and transported to the Vatican on a flatbed truck travelling over 1,240 miles across central Europe.

Thanking the members of the Polish delegation, the Pope said the tree’s soaring height “motivates us to reach out ‘towards the highest gifts”’ and to rise above the clouds to experience “how beautiful and joyful it is to be immersed in the light of Christ.”--CNS