The scandal with the Vatican Christmas tree supplanted the festive euphoria. It turned out that the felling of a 200-year-old tree from the protected area was prevented at the last moment.
The tree was promised to the Holy See by the inhabitants of a small village in the Abruzzo region. However, while walking through the forest, a local resident saw that preparations were being made to cut down a tree on a nearby plot, which is part of the nature reserve.
He immediately reported this to the forest authorities, and the felling of the tree was prevented.
While the search for the culprit who marked the protected tree continues, the Vatican decided to decorate St. Peter’s Square with a tree from the nursery.
📹 VIDEO | The Vatican's Christmas tree has arrived! The tree will adorn St. Peter's Square this Advent and Christmas season. The tree will be lit, and the Nativity scene unveiled, during the annual tree lighting on Dec. 3. pic.twitter.com/BBccHEtI44
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) November 17, 2022