The Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome will host the third edition of the living nativity this Saturday, December 14.
This basilica is the place where Pope Francis prays before and after each of his international trips, where he entrusts himself to the Marian icon of the Salvation of the Roman People (Protector of the Roman People).
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The tradition of the manger, birth or nativity scene began with Saint Francis of Assisi on Christmas 1223 in the town of Greccio (Italy).
The manger, nativity scene or living nativity scene, notes a note from the Papal Basilica of Santa María Maggiore, “is an invitation to rediscover the beauty of the Christmas story, a journey that guides us towards the essence of the birth message” of the Child. Jesus.
The note specifies that the living crib will pass along Merulana Street or Via, from the Church of Perpetual Help, to the Plaza de Santa María Maggiore, to conclude in the atrium of the papal basilica.
The program will begin at 12 noon (local time) with a Mass, which will be presided over by the new Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Coadjutor Archpriest of the Basilica, and then bless the traditional Little childrenthe images of the Baby Jesus that will later be placed in the nativity scenes.
In the afternoon, starting at 2:00 p.m., the manger area will be inaugurated and at 2:30 p.m. an exhibition of “historical groups and folk coming from various regions of Italy, who will cheer from the atrium of the basilica with music and dance.”
At 3:00 p.m. the representation of the living nativity scene will begin, “offering those present an experience that engages and encourages them, capable of transporting the public to the authentic atmosphere of Christmas.”
The note also specifies that “the participants will greet Pope Francis at the end of the demonstration in front of the Basilica of Santa María Maggiore, a joyful moment that will enrich the entire day with spiritual and religious meaning.”
Walter Sánchez Silva
I have been a husband since 2008. My wife and I have three children here and one who went to heaven in 2023, before he was born. Since I joined ACI Prensa in 2005, I have had the opportunity to cover various events of the Catholic Church. Among them, the World Youth Days in Cologne, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro and the apostolic trips of Pope Benedict XVI to Mexico and of Pope Francis to South Korea. I have been sent to the Vatican to cover the Family synods, in 2015; of the Amazon, in 2019 and that of Synodality, in 2023. I closely follow the situation of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which suffers persecution from the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega, as well as current ecclesiastical events in the region.