The Vatican unveiled its Nativity scene and lit a 25-meter Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, accompanied by a band, chorus, and dancers in traditional South Tyrol costumes.

The spruce tree came from Italy’s German-speaking autonomous province on the Austrian border, while the life-size Nativity scene was designed by the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese, featuring southern Italian architectural elements.

South Tyrol deputy governor Rosmarie Pamer highlighted the peaceful coexistence of Italian, German, and Ladino language groups in the region.

The inauguration is part of Christmas season events, including Christmas Eve Mass and the pope’s traditional Urbi et Orbi address on Christmas Day, marking the close of the Jubilee Year begun by Pope Francis, the AP has reported.

Earlier, Pope Leo XIV condemned the antisemitic violence in Sydney during Hanukkah in a separate audience with the donors of the decorations.