Pope thanks Ukraine for Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square

(December 16, 2011) Christmas is the Christian feast whose symbols point to the great mystery of the Incarnation and the birth of Jesus, which the liturgy evokes tirelessly, said Pope Benedict XVI on Friday. He was speaking to a delegation from Ukraine who donated this year’s Christmas tree , a 30-meter tall fir tree, set up in St. Peter’s Square in Rome next to the life size nativity scene. While thanking the former Soviet Republic for the gift, the Pope reminded its civil and religious authorities that the Christmas tree and the nativity scene are elements of a typically Christmas atmosphere that belongs to the spiritual heritage of our communities. He said it is an atmosphere bathed in religiosity and family spirit which we must preserve even in today’s society where sometimes consumerism and the quest for material goods seem to prevail. During Advent season, the Pope said, the Church invites us to prepare for the birth of the Saviour by intensifying our spiritual journey and our relationship with Christ. For this to happen, we need to regain the taste for prayer and must not allow ourselves be overwhelmed by the fast pace of life, which prevent us from experiencing the stupendous mystery of God who dwells in us. The Christmas tree was lit up with a ceremony later on Friday.