Pope Leo XIV on Sunday described the Nativity as “a gift of light” that offers hope and consolation to a world facing hardship, urging Christians to live as visible signs that no one is ever alone.
The Pope spoke at the Vatican to about 1,000 participants in the annual “Living Nativity” tradition as Advent draws toward Christmas.
The pilgrims later processed through Rome to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where they celebrated Holy Mass.
Welcoming the group, Pope Leo said their journey to Rome and to the tomb of St. Peter reflects centuries of Christian pilgrimage.
He noted that their celebration would continue at St. Mary Major, known as the “Bethlehem of the West,” where the Holy Crib is preserved.
Reflecting on the origins of the Nativity scene, the Pope recalled that the relic of the Holy Crib inspired St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 to create the first Nativity at Greccio, a tradition that has since spread across the world.
Quoting his predecessors, Pope Leo said Pope Benedict XVI described the Nativity as God’s peaceful answer to pride and violence, while Pope Francis taught that contemplating the scene draws believers into a spiritual journey marked by humility.
“In the poverty of Bethlehem, we learn how to begin again by following Christ,” the Pope said.
He told the participants that their public witness makes them “pilgrims of hope, bearers of consolation and inspiration” for all people, especially the lonely and suffering.
Pope Leo concluded by urging them to keep the Nativity tradition alive, saying it reminds the world that salvation is a shared journey and that hope remains alive even in difficult times.
