Rome, an itinerant living nativity scene to bear witness to the presence of God

The initiative will be held between the Basilicas of San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore, following the itinerary of the Corpus Domini procession. The curator Don Ivan Ricupero: “Even through these small gestures we can talk about the mystery of Christ and try to involve as many people as possible”

Ilaria Sambucci – Vatican City

There will be extras and delegations from different parts of Italy in the living nativity scene which will take place in Rome, tomorrow Saturday 17 December, between the basilicas of San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore. Fabrizio Mandorlini, coordinator of Città dei Presepi, partner of the project, explained that the initiative will begin with the realization of the scene of the approval of the Franciscan Rule by Pope Innocent III in Piazza S. Giovanni Paolo II, then, the characters they will move to via Merulana for the census scene and to represent the moments of life in the city of Bethlehem. In Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, on the other hand, there will be a trade market, while the Nativity scene will be set up in the churchyard of the homonymous basilica. “The goal is to testify in the streets that Christ is present in our lives,” he says to the microphones of Vatican Radio – Vatican News Fr Ivan Ricuperocurator of the initiative and master of ceremonies of Santa Maria Maggiore, “we are all called to participate in this mystery which leads us to salvation”.

Listen to the interview with Don Ivan Ricupero

The crib of inclusion

Santa Maria Maggiore has been known for centuries also as Sancta Maria ad Praesepem. This name was given to it by Pope Sixtus II who, in 432, created a grotto of the Nativity similar to that of Bethlehem, even before welcoming the relics of the cradle of the baby Jesus, still preserved under the high altar. “We asked ourselves what we could do to involve the city and the pilgrims visiting Rome in these weeks – explains Don Ivan Ricupero – so we thought of a living itinerant nativity scene that could recall the great event of the Incarnation of the Lord. We also tried to make the historical memory of this representation and Santa Maria Maggiore seemed to us the natural place to be able to re-propose the Nativity scene”. In the past, various events were organized near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele to commemorate Christmas, but there had never been a living nativity scene in Santa Maria Maggiore. Social inclusion is one of the main characteristics of this crib. In fact, there are many associations that have taken part in this initiative and that tomorrow will cross the beating heart of the city of Rome to tell the story of the Savior. At the end of the performance, the Novena will be celebrated in preparation for Christmas and, at 6 pm, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar for the Diocese of Rome, will preside over the Eucharistic celebration with the blessing of the Bambinelli.

Talking about Christ with small gestures

Pope Francis, who personally viewed the project, immediately expressed his appreciation for the creation of the living nativity scene. “The Holy Father is very attentive to the dimension of popular spirituality, so he immediately welcomed this initiative – says Don Ricupero – because he sees it as a simple moment where even through these small gestures one can speak of the mystery of Christ and try to involve as many as many people as possible. The goal is to be able to testify on the streets that Christ is present in our lives and that we are all called to participate in this mystery that leads us to salvation”. A message of hope that invites us to be reborn in faith and to open ourselves to the plan that God has for each of us.

Rome, an itinerant living nativity scene to bear witness to the presence of God – Vatican News