Those who have visited the Vatican in recent days have found not just one nativity scene. There are now more than one hundred of them, coming from over 20 countries around the world.
The most striking of them is of course the one in the center of St. Peter’s Square. With a southern Italian touch, it stands out for its life-sized figures representing the Holy Family as well as figures of Italian saints from southern Italy.
This Nativity scene is the centerpiece of an exhibition by the Vatican titled 100 Nativity Scenes. But even that's too little because this year there are over 130 creche scenes on display. They come from many different countries, especially Latin American ones.
Some are very eye-catching. For example, look at this bus: it’s an exact life-size replica of the one currently used to reach St. Peter’s Basilica.
There's this one, a city destroyed under rubble with the Baby Jesus as the only light in the world.
And even Pope Francis appears, specifically in this nativity, opening the Holy Door.
Check this one out: a rotating globe with another nativity inside.
Most of the nativities are outside in the square but some are inside the Basilica too. The country in charge of this nativity every year is Mexico, but this year it was so large that it had to be placed outside.
A nativity that mixes tradition with modernity. Its figures are made life-sized with 3D printers, and the faces are inspired by different people who participated in the project.
