A 25-meter-tall red fir tree has been placed in St. Peter's Square, continuing a tradition since 1982. The tree originates from the Val d’Ultimo area in the province of Bolzano, Italy, and was provided by the municipalities of Lagundo and Val d’Ultimo. In addition to the main tree, 40 smaller trees will be placed in various Vatican offices and buildings. The tree's selection and removal are part of a forest management strategy to ensure the health and control of the forest's growth.
18 days ago
A 25-meter-tall red fir tree, also described as a Norway spruce, arrived in St. Peter’s Square on November 27, 2025, and was erected next to the ancient Egyptian obelisk in the Baroque square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.1 2 Weighing approximately eight tons, the tree was harvested before dawn on November 24 from the alpine Val d’Ultimo forests in Italy’s Bolzano province.3 Workers completed the installation on the same day, marking the start of the Vatican’s Christmas preparations under Pope Leo XIV.4
The tree was donated by the northern Italian municipalities of Lagundo and Val d’Ultimo as a gesture of faith and regional pride.1 2 Selected through a meticulous process by local forest guards, it represents the natural beauty of South Tyrol’s lakes, forests, and mountains.1 3 Forty smaller trees from the same area will adorn Vatican offices and buildings, supporting a natural renewal of the woodlands.1 3
This donation continues a tradition initiated in 1982 by Pope John Paul II, who received a tree from a Polish farmer, evolving into an annual honor from various European regions.1 The offering symbolizes a spiritual and emotional bond between local communities and the Holy See, serving as an “ambassador” of territory, culture, and faith.2 4 Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone emphasized it as a way to pray with Pope Leo XIV and share Christmas joy.2 3
The tree’s harvest is part of responsible forest management in South Tyrol, where mature trees are removed to prevent overcrowding and promote ecosystem health, followed by reforestation for future generations.1 3 Bishop Muser described the felling not as disrespect but as active care, countering ethical concerns about cutting such a tree.3 Post-season, branches will yield essential oils via an Austrian company, while the wood will be repurposed by a charitable organization, aligning with environmental stewardship.1 3
A large nativity display, donated by the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, is under construction behind fencing in the square, honoring St. Alphonus Maria de Liguori, composer of the Christmas carol “Tu scendi dalle stelle.”2 4 It features Neapolitan traditions from the Agro nocerino-sarnese area, crafted entirely by local artisans after extensive preparation.2 4 Bishop Giuseppe Giudice highlighted its cultural richness.2 A public presentation ceremony for both the tree and nativity is scheduled for December 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., with displays open until mid-January 2026.2 4
Evaluate the Church’s stewardship of natural resources through the Vatican Christmas‑tree tradition
The Catholic Church's approach to stewardship of natural resources is deeply rooted in the biblical mandate to "till and keep" the earth, as articulated in Genesis and echoed throughout papal teachings. This responsibility is not merely practical but theological, viewing creation as a gift from God entrusted to humanity for the benefit of all generations. The annual tradition of erecting a Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square serves as a vivid illustration of this stewardship, blending profound spiritual symbolism with contemporary ecological awareness. Far from being a mere festive display, the selection, harvesting, and use of the tree reflect the Church's commitment to sustainable practices, as seen in recent efforts to ensure responsible forest management and resource repurposing. Drawing from papal addresses and encyclicals, this tradition exemplifies how the Church integrates care for creation with the celebration of Christ's birth, promoting integral human development while honoring the intrinsic value of the natural world.
At the heart of Catholic teaching on environmental stewardship is the recognition that humanity's dominion over creation, as described in Genesis 1:28, is one of responsible care rather than exploitation. Pope John Paul II emphasized this in his 1985 address to the United Nations, linking the Church's environmental commitment to God's command: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over... every living thing that moves upon the earth." He stressed that exploitation must consider future generations, ensuring that stewardship glorifies God by serving the integral development of the human family. This theme resonates in Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 videomessage on climate change, where he described the earth as a "precious gift of the Creator" and called for a "covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God." Such principles underscore that environmental protection is intertwined with solidarity, particularly toward the poor and future generations.
Pope Francis builds on these foundations in his encyclical Laudato Si', portraying the earth as "Sister" and "Mother" who "groans in travail" due to human abuse. He critiques excessive anthropocentrism that treats nature as mere resource for consumption, urging instead a "responsible stewardship" where humans act as cooperators with God. In paragraph 67, Francis clarifies the biblical notion of dominion: it involves "tilling" (cultivating) and "keeping" (protecting), fostering mutual responsibility between people and nature to ensure fruitfulness for all. This is not optional but a moral imperative, as "the deterioration of nature is closely connected to the culture which shapes human coexistence." These teachings frame the Church's actions, including traditions like the Christmas tree, as opportunities to model ecological conversion.
The Vatican Christmas tree tradition dates back centuries but gained prominence in modern times as a gift from various regions, symbolizing unity with the universal Church and the light of Christ. Pope John Paul II frequently highlighted its spiritual depth during audiences with donors. In 2000, addressing pilgrims from Carinthia, Austria, who provided the tree for the Jubilee Year, he described it as an "eloquent greeting" that uplifts the spirit and speaks of life's mysteries—from spring's flowering to winter's death—mirroring human rootedness in faith. He connected the tree to paradise's tree of life and the Cross, noting how "death came from the tree of paradise, from the tree of the Cross life was restored." Placed beside the Nativity scene, it invites contemplation of Christ's Incarnation, transforming a natural element into a sign of redemption.
Similarly, in 1999, John Paul II received a fir from the Czech Republic's Mount Beskydy, praising its lights as symbols of Christ, "the true light that enlightens every man." He linked it to the journey from Bethlehem's stable to Golgotha, emphasizing how the tree fosters understanding of salvation. In 1990, addressing donors from Brescia's mountains, the Pope called the tree a reminder of approaching Christmas joy and an invitation to gaze upward to God's mercy, while affirming mountain dwellers as "jealous custodians" of forests, rivers, and meadows—stewards tasked with helping humanity respect and preserve nature's patrimony. These addresses reveal the tree not as a disposable ornament but as a theological bridge, rooted in Psalm 1's image of the faithful as a "tree planted by streams of water" that yields fruit.
The tradition continued under subsequent popes, with Pope Francis in 2024 greeting donors from Italy's Ledro valley and Palestine's Bethlehem for the Nativity scene. He marveled at the 29-meter spruce's "majestic solemnity," its rings symbolizing generational continuity in the Church: "the old giving life to the young, the young who envelop and protect the old, all rising together upwards." This imagery aligns the tree with the Church's mission, spreading Christ's light while journeying toward heaven.
While rich in symbolism, the Church's handling of the Christmas tree has evolved to embody practical stewardship, aligning with calls for ecological responsibility. Pope Francis's 2024 address explicitly notes that the tree was "cut down with respect for the ecological principles of the natural replacement of the forest," ensuring sustainability through managed harvesting that allows regrowth. This practice counters exploitation, as urged in Laudato Si', where Francis warns against plunder and calls for models of development that safeguard resources. The encyclical's paragraph 124 highlights labor's role in maintaining creation's fabric, as in Genesis 2:15, where humans are to "till and keep" the garden—principles mirrored in the careful selection of trees from renewable forests.
Historically, John Paul II addressed forest workers in 1987, stressing the urgency of conserving woodlands to maintain natural equilibria and combat pollution. He declared it a Christian moral duty to care for the earth "so that it may bear fruit and become a dwelling worthy of the universal human family." In the Christmas tree context, this translates to avoiding waste: after the season, the tree is often repurposed—branches used for wreaths or compost, trunk for wood products—minimizing environmental impact. Broader Vatican initiatives, like the 2024 agrivoltaic plant in Fratello Sole, aim for climate neutrality using solar energy, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustainability that complements seasonal traditions. These actions refute critiques of anthropocentrism by prioritizing intergenerational equity, as Benedict XVI advocated: costs of resource use must be borne transparently, not shifted to the poor or future generations.
Despite these positive steps, the tradition invites reflection on potential controversies. Some might question the carbon footprint of transporting large trees internationally, yet the Church's emphasis on local sourcing—often from European regions like Austria, Poland, or Italy—mitigates this, fostering regional economies and reducing emissions. Laudato Si' addresses such tensions in paragraph 117, warning that disregarding nature's structures leads to crumbling foundations, but integral ecology connects environmental care with social justice. The tree tradition thus becomes a microcosm of this: it unites donors from diverse locales, as in the 2024 Palestinian contribution amid conflict, symbolizing hope and solidarity.
John Paul II's 2003 general audience with Aosta donors reinforced this, thanking them for trees that remind all of Jesus as "Light of the world," while tying it to joyful preparation for Christmas. Opportunities abound for further enhancement, such as promoting artificial trees in parishes or educational campaigns on reforestation, aligning with Francis's call for "profound changes in lifestyles" to protect our common home.
In conclusion, the Vatican Christmas tree tradition exemplifies the Church's stewardship as a harmonious blend of reverence for creation and evangelization. Rooted in scriptural wisdom and papal exhortations, it demonstrates sustainable harvesting, symbolic depth, and a call to global solidarity—urging all to view the natural world as a reflection of God's love. By caring for the tree, the Church invites the faithful to extend that care to the entire planet, fostering an ecology of hope for generations to come.