Pope: The Nativity as a beacon of light for a world that longs for hope
In a gathering of about 1,000 participants taking part in the traditional “Living Nativity” at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, Pope Leo XIV urged everyone present to spread a message of companionship and perseverance. He reminded them that we are never truly alone and encouraged them to remain “pilgrims of hope, bearers of consolation and inspiration for all those you meet.”
By Kielce Gussie
As Advent’s second week nears its end and the Christmas season grows nearer, Pope Leo XIV led a special event at the heart of the Eternal City. Welcoming roughly 1,000 attendees of the Living Nativity, the Pope noted that they would later process to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a site steeped in history and devotion. The group travels from various places to honor St. Peter’s tomb, symbolizing the long tradition of pilgrims who journey to this sacred location. After their audience with the Pope, they will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica, which is also widely known as the “Bethlehem of the West” because the Holy Crib is kept there.
The Holy Crib, a revered relic, is safeguarded and venerated at St. Mary Major in Rome.
Pope Leo highlighted that this crib, along with the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, inspired Saint Francis in 1223 to stage the first Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy — a moment that gave birth to the long-standing Nativity tradition that has spread worldwide for more than eight centuries.
A hopeful message for a world in need
The Holy Father drew on reflections from two previous popes to illuminate the meaning of this Christmas emblem. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI described the Nativity as God’s arrival without weapons or coercion, breaking through pride, violence, and humanity’s longing for possession. A decade after that, Pope Francis explained that before the Nativity, while we gaze upon the scene, we are invited to begin a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the Son who became human to meet every person.
Pope Leo echoed this sentiment, noting that in Bethlehem’s stable, the Holy Family confronts “disarming poverty.” It is here that we recommit to starting anew and following Christ’s example.
As the Living Nativity participants march through Rome toward the Basilica, they will embody a joyful emblem of the beauty of Jesus’ disciples. “This makes you—today and always—a mission of hope, bearers of consolation and inspiration for all you meet,” the Holy Father told them.
The mission is universal: it calls the young and the old, the healthy and the ailing, the lonely and the suffering, to participate.
In his closing remarks, Pope Leo underscored that the Nativity scene remains a powerful reminder that “we are part of a marvelous journey of Salvation in which we are never alone.” He urged the participants to spread this message and keep the tradition alive, as it represents “a gift of light for our world,” a light that must continue to inspire hope.
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Participants in the Living Nativity meet with Pope Leo XIV
