Vatican Nativity scene sends a strong pro-life message for Christmas

The Vatican's Nativity scene for Christmas this year is being applauded for its pro-life message.

Key Takeaways:

• The Vatican puts a different Nativity scene on display each year for Christmas.

• Pope Leo XIV was expected to bless the Nativity on December 15.

• Titled "Nacimiento Gaudium," or "Joyful Birth," this year's Nativity was created by a Costa Rican artist with the help of pro-life prayer ministry 40 Days for Life.

• The scene will display more than 25,000 ribbons instead of straw; each represents a baby saved through the prayers and witness of 40 Days for Life.

The Details:

Each Advent as pilgrims and visitors gather in Rome, the Vatican unveils a new Nativity scene to aid people to meditate on the miracle of Jesus Christ’s birth. However, in an unprecedented move, the Nativity display for 2025, scheduled to be blessed by Pope Leo XIV on December 15, contains a poignant pro-life message. 

Entitled “Nacimiento Gaudium” (Joyful Birth), this year’s Nativity scene, which was designed by Costa Rican sacred artist Paula Sáenz Soto with the assistance of 40 Days for Life, will eventually be put in the Paul VI Audience Hall and be on display through the Christmas season, and for the closing of the Jubilee Year of Hope. Notably, Soto’s work would signify one of the most overtly pro-life messages to be featured by the Vatican in a long time. 

On Monday, Pope Leo XIV thanked Soto, saying, “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.” 

Remarkably, the nativity scene is poised to depict the Virgin Mary visibly pregnant until Christmas Day. The figure of the pregnant Virgin Mary will then be substituted with a statue of the Virgin Mary adoring the newborn Christ Child, highlighting “that Our Lord was here as a child” and that His human life began in the womb.

Zoom In:

The scene will display more than 25,000 ribbons instead of the traditional straw, each representing one of the babies saved through the prayers and witness of 40 Days for Life.

Soto said she hoped she could showcase the plight of preborn human beings. “This (Nativity scene) has to be something that the whole world knows about,” she said. “And I asked myself, ‘What place will this cry of babies to the world be heard the most? Well, the Vatican.’”

Initially meant to be exhibited in 2027 under Pope Francis, the artwork was moved forward to be displayed in 2025. Nacimiento Gaudium will be the first Nativity blessed by Pope Leo during his pontificate. 

Soto also argued that God expedited the timing of the Nativity display following violence and increasing cultural chaos about the dignity of preborn human beings.

“This year, several events have occurred, a lot of violence… the deaths of certain people who have defended life,” she said, adding that “Many Catholics… have appeared in videos where they defend abortion ... I feel that (the pro-life message) is something that needs to be communicated very clearly, and we need to pray a lot and get down on our knees.”

Primer Pesebre provida en el Vaticano | Conoce la historia | Especial de 40DPLV

The Bottom Line:

The unveiling of this year’s Nativity scene can be juxtaposed against various other Vatican Nativity scenes in recent years that ignited outrage or criticism from the faithful. The 2017 “Nativity of Mercy” referenced the seven corporal works of mercy, and some complained that the 2020 Nativity featured figures described as “unrecognizable.”

These past displays sparked debate across the Catholic world, making this year's overtly life-affirming message much more welcome.