VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican celebrated the onset of the Christmas season by unveiling its Nativity scene and illuminating a towering 25-meter (82-foot) Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on Monday, December 15, 2025. The event featured performances by a band, chorus, and dancers clad in traditional costumes representing the northern Italian province of South Tyrol, emphasizing the cultural richness of the region.

The majestic spruce tree was sourced from South Tyrol, which is located at the Austrian border and is known for its German-speaking majority. The life-size Nativity scene, crafted by the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese from the southern Campania province, showcased distinctive architectural elements reflective of the region’s heritage, providing a local touch to the Vatican's Christmas decorations.

Rosmarie Pamer, the deputy governor of South Tyrol, emphasized the significance of cultural diversity within the province, which is home to three linguistic groups: Italian, German, and Ladino. She highlighted the importance of this coexistence, describing it as "a great gift and a great fortune,” stressing that such harmony should not be taken for granted.

The inauguration of the Nativity scene and the tree lighting are part of a series of events heralding the Christmas season at the Vatican. These events will culminate in a Christmas Eve Mass and the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" address—meaning "to the City and the World"—delivered by the pope on Christmas Day. This festive season holds particular significance as it marks the closure of the Jubilee Year initiated by the late Pope Francis.

Although Pope Leo XIV did not attend the nighttime inauguration of the tree and Nativity scene, he expressed his concerns regarding global issues during an earlier audience. Specifically, he condemned the anti-Semitic violence linked to the recent Hanukkah massacre in Sydney, Australia, underscoring the Vatican's ongoing commitment to promoting peace and tolerance.