Pope thanks Belgians for their gift of Vatican’s Christmas tree

(December 18, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday thanked a group of some 200 pilgrims from Belgium that donated this year’s giant Christmas tree erected in St. Peter’s Square next to the life-size Nativity scene. The 90-year old tree is over 30 meters tall and comes from the forests of the Ardennes in Wallonia, Belgium. The tree that was trucked in and erected on Dec. 4 was to be officially inaugurated with lighting on Friday evening. While thanking the pilgrims for their gift, Pope Benedict reflected on the journey of tree from the darkness of the thick forest to the lights and decoration that adorn it. “Leaving its dark dress for a scintillating brilliance, it is transformed - it becomes a bearer of light that is not its own but bears witness to the true light that comes into this world.” The Pope explained that the fate of the tree is compared to that of shepherds who keeping watch in the darkness of night are illuminated by the message of the angels. He said the fate of the tree is also compared to our story. We are called to bear good fruit to show that the world has truly been visited and redeemed by the Lord. The Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square is a tradition begun by late Pope John Paul II in 1982. The nativity scene will be unveiled on Christmas Eve.