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.