Tuesday 23 / December / 2025
Vatican City: This year, Pope Leo XIV will lead the Christmas celebrations at the Vatican for the first time. But the popular Christmas traditions at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church remain unchanged.
For Catholics, the Advent season started on November 30 this year — and with it, the excitement for Christmas.
At the Vatican, the festivities begin with the official lighting of the Christmas tree and the inauguration of the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square, which both took place on December 15 this year.
Every year, a different Roman Catholic diocese has the honor of donating a Christmas tree to the Vatican.
This year's tree is a Norway spruce from the diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone in Italy's South Tyrol province. The 27-meter (88 feet) Christmas tree weighs nearly eight tons.
In an interview on the Vatican's website, Bishop Ivo Muser from the Bolzano-Bressanone diocese said: "I hope that wonder before Creation will also be stirred by our Christmas tree and that it will inspire reflection." He also called upon people to be attentive, respectful and "ready to embrace sustainable and modest lifestyles."
Whether this is possible, considering the opulent decorations and the festive lights blinking in constantly changing colors, remains to be seen.
For the fifth time in a row, the Christmas tree is from Italy. A total of four Christmas trees have been donated from places in Germany so far, and in 2028, Deggendorf in Bavaria is set to donate the fifth German Christmas tree.
Pompous Christmas celebrations have been taking place at the Vatican for at least 500 years, but the tradition of placing a Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square started in 1982 during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II.
Nativity scenes from all over the world
The Nativity scene was designed and crafted by the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, located in the Salerno province in Campania, southern Italy. The scene features life-sized figures and incorporates architectural elements typical of the region surrounding Nocera.
At the inauguration of the Nativity scene, Bishop Giuseppe Giudice called it "a great opportunity for the evangelization and redevelopment of the entire region."
The "100 Nativity Scenes in the Vatican" exhibition, held for the eighth time, is also on show under the left colonnade of St. Peter's Square. The exhibition features nativity scenes designed by artists from 23 countries. This year's edition is part of the cultural event series "Jubilee is Culture." According to Vatican News, the exhibition serves as "an expression of gratitude for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope."
What happens on Christmas Eve?
Pope Leo XIV will lead the Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at 10 p.m. You need a ticket to enter, but they're free of charge — which is also why there are all booked months in advance.
No tickets are required to attend the "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") Papal blessing on Christmas Day.
Leo XIV will give his message and blessing from atop the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in front of tens of thousands assembled around St. Peter's Square.
The "Urbi et Orbi" address starts at 12 p.m. and here, too, you should arrive early — especially as it is a highlight of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which ends after the Christmas season.
On New Year's Eve, the pope will hold a New Year's Eve Vespers, and the "Te Deum" hymn will be sung to give thanks for the past year.
The festivities conclude with a mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord at 9:30 a.m. on January 6, led by Leo XIV. This also marks the end of the Jubilee Year.
