Pope thanks German town for Christmas tree

December 13, 2013 - Pope Francis on Friday thanked a delegation from German town of Waldmunchen in Bavaria state, which this year gifted the Vatican the giant Christmas tree that is standing next to the life-size nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square. Among the 350-member delegation from Waldmunchen were the town mayor, German embassy officials as well as the bishops of the German dioceses of Regensburg and Plzen, bordering he Czech Republic. Noting that the 25-meter tall fir tree weighing 7.2 tons grew in the border region between the two countries, Pope Francis said the Christmas tree was truly international. While wishing the group for Christmas, the Pope recalled the Gospel narration of ‘a great light’ that engulfed the shepherds, saying even today Jesus continues to dispel the darkness of error and sin to bring to mankind the joy of the brilliant divine light of which the Christmas tree is a reminder and sign. “Let us allow ourselves of be engulfed by the light of his truth so that the joy of the Gospel fills the heart and the whole life of those who encounter Jesus,” the Pope added. The lights on the Christmas tree was to be inaugurated at a ceremony later Friday evening. Each year the Vatican receives a Christmas tree from a different European region. In addition to the giant tree that stands in St. Peter’s Square, the chosen region also delivers a few dozen smaller trees that decorate offices in the Vatican. The wood from the Christmas tree will be used to made toys and articles of daily use, after the Christmas season is over.