Vatican City: A towering red fir from northern Italy now graces St. Peter’s Square, continuing a beloved Vatican tradition that dates back to 1982. This year’s Christmas tree, standing 25 meters tall, was carefully selected from the Val d’Ultimo area in the province of Bolzano and gifted by the municipalities of Lagundo and Val d’Ultimo. Known for its picturesque landscapes of lakes, forests, mountains, and meadows, Bolzano is celebrated for sustainable forestry practices, ensuring that the chosen tree was felled as part of careful forest management rather than as an act of disrespect to nature.
Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone explained that tree removal is part of a strategic process aimed at maintaining the health and growth of forests. In South Tyrol, reforestation is not merely a local initiative but a cornerstone of ecological stewardship, with new trees planted to replace those cut, preserving resilient forests for future generations. Alongside the main tree, 40 smaller trees have been transported to the Vatican to adorn offices and buildings across the Holy See, emphasizing both tradition and environmental continuity.
In keeping with a green perspective, once the Christmas season concludes, the tree’s branches will be processed by the Austrian company Wilder Naturprodukte to extract essential oils. The remaining wood will be donated to charity and repurposed, reflecting the Vatican’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible resource use.
The Vatican’s Christmas tree tradition began with Pope John Paul II in 1982, when he received a tree from a Polish farmer, marking the start of a yearly ritual in which a tree from a European region is donated to the Holy See. Over the decades, this tradition has grown into a symbol of faith, unity, and environmental awareness, with each tree standing as a seasonal beacon of celebration in the heart of Rome.