Pope Francis has visited the "100 Nativities in the Vatican" display
The "100 Presipi in Vatican" exhibition opened on Saturday and contains more than 150 nativity scenes from 40-plus countries. Pope Francis met with artists and staff before saying a prayer and blessing those present. It is the 44th year the nativity exhibition has run but only the second year it has been shown at the Vatican.
The annual exhibition was established in Rome in 1976 by an Italian, Manilo Menaglia, who feared the traditional crib scene was being overshadowed by other decorations, such as the Christmas tree. Cribs are made by professional artists as well as schoolchildren, amateurs and community groups. In addition to traditional designs, there are also modern cribs made from a variety of materials including sand, metal and rice.
At the start of December, Pope Francis published an apostolic letter on the importance of setting up nativity scenes. He said the Nativity scene is a simple reminder of “God’s tender love” and urged Christians to follow the beautiful family tradition.
The Pope encouraged Christians to build cribs at schools and workplaces. He said: “It is my hope that this custom will never be lost and that, wherever it has fallen into disuse, it can be rediscovered and revived.”
Pope Francis also gave his blessing for ‘fanciful additions’ to Nativity scenes, such as a blacksmith, townspeople, or even animals like dogs. He said additions “show that in the new world inaugurated by Jesus there is room for whatever is truly human and for all God’s creatures.”
At the end of the letter, the Pope recalled his own childhood memories of setting up his family Nativity scene. He said: “When we place the Infant Jesus in the manger, the Nativity scene suddenly comes alive. God appears as a child, for us to take into our arms.
“Standing before the Christmas creche, we are reminded of the time when we were children eagerly waiting to set it up.”
100 Presipi will be open until January 12 and is free to enter.
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