Vatican's giant Christmas tree sparks local protest in Italy
Christmas is rapidly approaching, and with it, preparations for one of the most important celebrations in the Catholic calendar. As every year, a remarkable Nativity scene and Christmas tree will adorn St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, symbolising the birth of Jesus Christ. However, this year, preparations for the decorations have encountered unexpected resistance – in the province of Trentino in northern Italy, a dispute has erupted over a 200-year-old tree.
This year's main Christmas tree for the Vatican festivities has been selected as a 29-metre spruce from the Ledro Valley. The issue is that the small town's residents, with a population of about 5,000 people, do not intend to give up the tree without a fight. At night, armed with torches, they gathered around the spruce to symbolically embrace it and prevent its felling. Since then, they have organised shifts, guarding the tree almost continuously.
Activists assert that cutting down such an old and majestic tree is an unnecessary loss to the local environment. Furthermore, according to their calculations, the entire endeavour, which includes cutting down the main tree and 39 smaller ones for decoration, will cost about £51,800.
However, the Ledro municipality authorities refute these claims. Mayor Renato Girardi points out that the costs of cutting and transporting the main tree amount to just £5,200.
Tree cutting is part of the local economy. The protesters are ruining the holiday over one tree – emphasised the mayor.
Appeal to Pope Francis
The matter gained publicity when activists sent an open letter to Pope Francis, asking for intervention. In the letter, signed by over 50,000 people, they appeal for the Vatican to abandon the custom of cutting down such magnificent trees.
This is a custom that should be abandoned. That's why we are making a fervent appeal to His Holiness to spare our Green Giant – they wrote.
The residents of Ledro Valley proposed an alternative solution: instead of a live tree, a Christmas tree made from the wood of trees felled by storms could be erected in St. Peter's Square.
Such a message would truly be a symbol of change. The Pope's words are heard around the world – emphasised the protesters in their appeal.
The symbolism of the Christmas tree in Catholic tradition
The Christmas tree that adorns St. Peter's Square every year has deep symbolic meaning. For Catholics, it is an expression of life and rebirth, reminding of the birth of Jesus Christ. Its evergreen needles signify hope and eternity, and the lights on its branches symbolise the light that Christ brings to the world, overcoming the darkness of sin.
However, in the face of modern ecological challenges and increasing awareness of environmental protection, these traditions are starting to be reconsidered. The protests in Ledro Valley are not only a dispute over a tree but also over how to balance fidelity to tradition with the need to protect nature.
What next?
Despite tensions and numerous appeals, the fate of the tree from Ledro Valley remains uncertain. The Christmas tree is scheduled to be transported to the Vatican and unveiled on 7 December, but activists are not giving up.
Will Pope Francis decide on a symbolic gesture in the spirit of ecology, or will the Vatican remain true to tradition? We will soon find out. Meanwhile, the residents of Ledro continue to watch over their "Green Giant," believing that their struggle can bring about change.
