The Vatican is completing preparations for this year's Christmas season, when Pope Leo XIV will preside over major ceremonies at the center of the Roman Catholic Church for the first time. Despite the change in the head, the long-standing Christmas traditions in the Vatican have been maintained for centuries, according to German media.
The reform season for Catholics has begun since November 30, opening the season of sacred preparation for Christmas. In the Vatican, the festive atmosphere officially kicked off with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the inauguration of the grotto at St. Peter's Square, taking place on December 15.
This year's Christmas tree is a 27m high Norwegian banyan tree, weighing nearly 8 tons, donated by the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone in the Southern Tyrol region of Italy. German mucck Ivo Muser expressed his hope that the pine tree will arouse the admiration of nature and encourage a sustainable, simple lifestyle. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Vatican pine tree has come from Italy, after many contributions from parishes in Germany in the past.
The Christmas rock grotto at St. Peter Square is designed by Nocera Inferiore-Sarno parish, Campania region, with real-sized characters and local architectural style. archiffect Giuseppe Giudice described the project as a great opportunity for the region's propaganda and revival.
At the same time, the 8th 100 committed Cave in the Vatican exhibition was held under the left row of the square, displaying works from 23 countries. The event is part of a series of cultural activities with the theme "The Holy Year is Culture", towards the Holy Year of Hope 2025.
On Christmas Eve, King Leo XIV will preside over the Midnight mass at the Royal Palace of St. Peter's Cathedral at 10pm. Tickets are free but have been booked for many months. On Christmas Day, he will grant the wish of " Urbi et Orbi" from the balcony of the church in front of tens of thousands of believers gathered in the square.
Subsecutive activities include Kinh Chieu and Te Deum prayers on New Year's Eve. The holiday season ended with the Holy Year's Day on the morning of January 6, chaired by King Leo XIV, which also marked the end of the Holy Year.
