A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
As Pope Leo XIV prepares for his first Christmas as Pope, the Vatican has unveiled two new Nativity scenes known as creches. One of them is massive - 30 feet tall. Claire Giangrave of Religion News Service reports from Vatican City.
CLAIRE GIANGRAVE: A new dome has been erected in St. Peter's Square. It may not be as tall as the famous basilica's, but it's home to a pretty special scene. It's part of a creche featuring the Holy Family on Christmas Day. This year, it comes from the Italian town of Nocera not far from Naples, which is famous for its creches. Making the new pope's first Vatican creche was a daunting project. Here's organizer Alfonso Maria Pagliuca.
ALFONSO MARIA PAGLIUCA: (Through interpreter) We reflected on the new pope and on the first Nativity scene for the new pope. So it was a mix of emotions that accompanied us in a very significant way.
GIANGRAVE: On one side of the creche, a wolf and a lamb are huddled together, which the artists say is a nod to Leo's commitment to promoting peace. It also shows a pregnant Virgin Mary, which is tradition in some parts of Italy. The Vatican has a second creche inside it's Paul VI Hall. It was made by Costa Rican artists and emphasizes the church's stance against abortion. It includes 28,000 colorful ribbons, each signifying an abortion that was prevented in the country, the artists say. Under Pope Francis, the Vatican's creches showcased issues like immigration, the climate crisis and the war in Gaza. But this year's creches reflect Leo's own leadership style. He says the nativity offers a chance to find moments of silence and prayer. Federico Iaccarino is the sculptor behind part of the creche in St. Peter's.
FEDERICO IACCARINO: (Through interpreter) Here, we're also trying to inspire wonder, but above all to help this feeling be reborn, something that nowadays, especially among adults, we're gradually losing.
GIANGRAVE: The Nativity scenes will stay at the Vatican until January 6.
For NPR News, I'm Claire Giangrave in Rome.
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MARTÍNEZ: This story was produced through a collaboration between NPR and Religion News Service. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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