Pope Leo XIV has expressed gratitude for a pro-life Nativity scene donated to the Vatican that highlights the dignity of human life from conception, offering pilgrims a powerful visual meditation during the Christmas season.
During an audience on Dec. 15 with delegations responsible for this year’s Vatican Christmas displays, the Holy Father thanked Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz Soto for her Nativity scene titled Gaudium, which features a visibly pregnant Virgin Mary. According to Pope Leo, the artwork is not only a celebration of Christmas but also a call to defend life at its earliest stages.
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“I thank the Costa Rican artist who, along with the message of peace of Christmas, also wanted to make an appeal for protecting life from conception,” the pope said, according to Catholic News Agency.
The Nativity scene is currently displayed in the Paul VI Audience Hall, where the pope is holding general audiences during the winter months. Pope Leo drew attention to the scene’s design, which includes 28,000 colorful ribbons representing lives saved through prayer and the assistance of Catholic organizations supporting mothers facing difficult pregnancies.
“The scene depicts a life saved from abortion thanks to prayer and the support provided by Catholic organizations to many mothers in difficult circumstances,” Pope Leo noted, according to the report.
The Holy Father emphasized that the Nativity reminds pilgrims of the central mystery of the Incarnation. He said the display serves as a reminder that “God draws near to humanity, entering into our history in the vulnerability of a child,” according to Catholic News Agency.
Reflecting on the figures within the Nativity, Pope Leo highlighted Mary as “a model of adoring silence,” encouraging the faithful to seek moments of prayer and reflection amid the busyness of life. He also pointed to the shepherds as examples of joyful witnesses who glorify God and share what they have encountered.
In addition to the Costa Rican Nativity scene, Pope Leo also addressed the Christmas decorations in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican Christmas tree, donated from the Val d’Ultimo region in South Tyrol, Italy, was described by the pope as “a sign of life and a reminder of the hope that does not fade even in the cold of winter,” according to Catholic News Agency.
The lights adorning the tree, he added, symbolize “Christ, the light of the world,” who comes to dispel darkness and guide humanity’s path.
Together, the Nativity scenes and Christmas decorations, Pope Leo suggested, invite the faithful to contemplate humility, hope, and the sacred value of every human life during the celebration of Christ’s birth.
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