Christmas 2026 in the Vatican: the Tree and Nativity Scene in St Peter’s Square and the Paul VI Hall

The Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, together with the Associazione Amici del Presepe di Atessa [Association of Friends for the Creche of the town of Atessa, Italy] the Libera Confraternita degli Artisti, and the Santi Pietro e Paolo Prison Education Centre of Vasto, Italy, will create the traditional Nativity scene in St Peter’s Square for Christmas 2026.

The majestic silver fir, approximately 25 meters tall, which will be erected in the Square, will come from the Cugno dell’Acero forest in the municipality of Terranova di Pollino (Potenza, Italy), while the Fondazione Carnevale di Viareggio (in Lucca) will donate the Nativity scene for the Paul VI Audience Hall.

Regarding the Nativity scene from Atessa, its creators wish to offer a contemplative experience rooted in the heart of Abruzzo’s tradition: a spiritual journey through the stages of the mystery of the Incarnation, combining biblical truth with the rich heritage of the land of Abruzzo.

With its distinctive straw roofs, the Nativity scene recalls the workplaces of farmers and the ancient traditional dwellings known as Pagliarelli or Pinciare, built from earth and straw: simple structures, yet able to contain everything necessary for living.

Among the many terracotta shepherds and flocks that enliven the scene, dressed in traditional Abruzzo clothing — rough fabrics and sheepskins symbolizing a simple and sincere faith — one particular element stands out: a black sheep. In the Nativity scene, it does not represent misfortune, but rather being especially loved by Divine Mercy. It represents a lost humanity, the sinner whom Christ wishes to bring back to Himself. It is the most vulnerable sheep, the one most in need of love and towards whom the Good Shepherd shows special care. The black sheep is a sign that no one is excluded from the joy of the birth of the Savior.

At the top of the main building, the Nativity scene is crowned by a Tower, watched over by an Angel announcing the Glory of the Word made flesh. The Tower visually recalls the biblical Migdal Eder, the “Tower of the Flock”, a place identified by tradition and Scripture as the very spot where the Messiah would first be revealed. The setting is completed by animals and furnishings typical of Abruzzo’s rural tradition.

The silver fir that will stand in St Peter’s Square will be taken from the Pollino National Park, from a municipality located at almost one thousand meters above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Calvario, in the uppermost area of the Sarmento River.

For the Nativity scene in the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Fondazione Carnevale di Viareggio has set the Nativity within the maritime context of local tradition, where elements of the sea and the lives of fishermen take on symbolic and spiritual meaning. Particular emphasis is given to the figure of Saint Joseph, presented as the guardian of fragility and light, while the Magi, reinterpreted as fishermen, offer gifts connected to the sea, evoking community, hospitality, and abundance.