Pope Marks 800th Anniversary Of Nativity Scene

Away in a cave near Greccio, Italy, St. Francis of Assisi had the first Nativity scene — a live one — staged for the faithful on Christmas Eve in 1223. A 15th-century fresco now decorating the cave inspired the Nativity scene erected in St. Peter’s Square for the 800th anniversary celebrations. ...Remembering Greccio today, the pope said, people should also think of Bethlehem. “And as we contemplate Jesus — God made man, small, poor, defenseless — we cannot but think of the tragedy that the inhabitants of the Holy Land are living, expressing to those brothers and sisters of ours, especially the children and their parents, our closeness and our spiritual support. They are the ones who pay the true price of war.” Read Full Article »