Vatican:

This year's annual Nativity scene at the Vatican is unlike any other. The Nativity, unveiled on December 9, pays special tribute to the tradition's origins on its 800th anniversary. The scene in St. Peter’s Square depicts not only Mary and Joseph standing beside the manger but also St. Francis of Assisi. On Christmas Eve in 1223, St. Francis arranged the first Nativity scene in a cave in the village of Greccio, near Rome.

The scene has life-size terracotta figures instead of the live animals and humans in St. Francis of Assisi's original manger. And a copy of the fresco that adorns Greccio's Chapel of the Nativity serves as the scene's backdrop. The inauguration event was presided over by the head of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga. Thousands took part in the inaugural ceremony.

Three Franciscan friars are also portrayed, alongside Mary, Joseph, and St. Francis, in the crib. The saint had assigned these friars the duty of erecting the first Nativity scene where the local faithful may visit and reflect on the poverty of the incarnate Lord. On Christmas Eve, the image of Jesus Christ will be placed in the center of the manger.

The crib scene, hailing from the Italian diocese of Rieti, was unveiled alongside the Vatican’s Christmas tree, a silver fir from the north Italian province of Cuneo. The 780-foot tall tree was donated by Marca village and is decorated with thousands of nursery-grown edelweiss.

Earlier that day, Pope Francis said that the Vatican’s Nativity scene this year should compel people to think of the Holy Land, both of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and the conflict currently engulfing the region.

Meanwhile, with the latest edition of the International Exhibition of 100 Cribs in the Vatican, the Dicastery of Evangelization continues its ‘The Jubilee is culture’ series in preparation for the Jubilee 2025. This event, combining nativity scenes created by artists worldwide, commenced on December 8 and will go through January 8, the day of Jesus’ Baptism. More than 120 nativity scenes from 22 countries will be displayed in St.Peter’s Square.