As the Church prepares to enter the final weeks of the Jubilee Year, Vatican officials have announced that the beloved “100 Nativity Scenes in the Vatican” exhibition will open once again, inviting pilgrims to encounter the Christmas mystery through global artistic traditions.
The international display will begin on 8 December under the left colonnade of St. Peter’s Square and will run until 8 January 2026. According to Vatican News, Archbishop Rino Fisichella—pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and the chief organizer of the Jubilee—will preside at the inauguration ceremony at 4 p.m., joined by members of the Dicastery. A folkloric performance coordinated by the Embassy of Mexico to the Holy See will accompany the opening celebrations.
The exhibition forms part of the wider cultural initiative “Jubilee is Culture,” which highlights the role of art and tradition in evangelization. This year’s edition brings together 132 Nativity scenes from 23 countries, presenting a unique mosaic of global expressions of faith. According to the Vatican News report, participating nations include Croatia, Romania, Peru, Eritrea, and Taiwan.
Artists from around the world have used an array of traditional and unexpected materials to depict the birth of Christ. Vatican News notes that the crèches feature “Japanese paper, silk, resin, wool, coconut and banana fibers, and glass,” with some displays crafted from striking objects such as “the front of an ATAC bus” or even “a tannery drum.” Mechanical Nativity scenes and a large Mexican presentation will also be on display, offering a mixture of craftsmanship, movement, and cultural storytelling.
Support for this year’s large exterior displays came from Urban Vision Group, one of the official sponsors of the Jubilee 2025. Its CEO, Gianluca de Marchi, emphasized the spiritual purpose of the event, saying the exhibition serves as “a reminder of the Christian faith and the origins of Christmas,” according to Vatican News. He added that through modern innovation, the organization hopes to “participate in a spiritual and cultural journey that brings together stories, traditions, and peoples from all over the world.”
For pilgrims arriving in Rome during Advent and Christmas, the Nativity displays provide an opportunity to reflect on how the Incarnation is celebrated across diverse cultures while remaining rooted in a shared faith. As the Church looks toward the conclusion of the Jubilee, the exhibit stands as a testament to unity, creativity, and the enduring power of the Christmas story.
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