Tree dispute at Vatican sparks plea to Pope for eco‑friendly Christmas
Christmas is approaching rapidly, along with preparations for one of the most significant celebrations in the Catholic calendar. As every year, an impressive Nativity scene and Christmas tree will appear in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, symbolizing the birth of Jesus Christ. However, this year, preparations for the decorations have encountered unexpected resistance. In the province of Trentino in northern Italy, a dispute has erupted over a 200-year-old tree.
6:59 AM EST, November 17, 2024
This year's main Christmas tree for the Vatican festivities has been selected as a 95-foot spruce from the Ledro Valley. The issue is that the residents of the small town, which has about 5,000 people, are not willing to give up the tree without a fight. Armed with flashlights, they gathered around the spruce at night to symbolically embrace it and prevent its cutting. Since then, they have organized shifts to guard the tree nearly continuously.
Activists argue that cutting down such an old and majestic tree represents an unnecessary loss for the local environment. Furthermore, according to their estimates, the entire undertaking—cutting down the main tree and 39 smaller ones for decoration—will cost about $63,000.
However, the Ledro municipality authorities dispute these claims. Mayor Renato Girardi points out that the costs for cutting and transporting the main tree are just $6,300.
Tree cutting is part of the local economy. The protesters are ruining the holiday over one tree, emphasized the mayor.
Appeal to Pope Francis
The issue gained publicity when activists sent an open letter to Pope Francis, asking for intervention. In the letter, signed by over 50,000 people, they urge the Vatican to abandon the practice of cutting down such magnificent trees.
This is a custom that should be abandoned. That's why we are making a heartfelt appeal to His Holiness to spare our Green Giant, they wrote.
The residents of Ledro Valley proposed an alternative: instead of a live tree, a Christmas tree made from the wood of trees felled by storms could be erected in St. Peter's Square.
Such a message would truly be a symbol of change. The Pope's words are heard around the world, emphasize the protesters in their appeal.
The symbolism of the Christmas tree in Catholic tradition
The Christmas tree that adorns St. Peter's Square each year has profound symbolic meaning. For Catholics, it is an expression of life and rebirth, reminding us of the birth of Jesus Christ. Its evergreen needles signify hope and eternity, and the lights on its branches symbolize Christ's light to the world, overcoming the darkness of sin.
However, these traditions are being reconsidered in the face of modern ecological challenges and increasing awareness of environmental protection. The protests in Ledro Valley are not just a dispute over a tree but also a question of balancing fidelity to tradition with the need to protect nature.
What next?
Despite tensions and numerous appeals, the fate of the tree from Ledro Valley remains uncertain. The Christmas tree is scheduled to be transported to the Vatican and unveiled on December 7, but activists are not giving up.
Will Pope Francis choose a symbolic gesture in the spirit of ecology, or will the Vatican remain true to tradition? We will soon find out. Meanwhile, the residents of Ledro continue to watch over their "Green Giant," believing that their struggle can bring about change.
