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El Vaticano inauguró hoy en la Plaza de San Pedro el árbol de Navidad y el belén, que este año reproduce el paisaje de Malta y tiene una clara referencia al drama de la inmigración.
EFE
En esta ocasión, el árbol colocado en la plaza vaticana es un abeto rojo de 25 metros de los bosques de Scurelle, donado por la región de Trento (norte de Italia).
Las bolas han sido realizadas por varios niños ingresados en el departamento de oncología de hospitales italianos que han participado en un taller de cerámica-terapia.
El encendido es de bajo impacto ambiental pues se han previsto 18.000 luces led con un consumo de 1,7 kilovatios.
En cuanto al belén, es un regalo de la archidiócesis y el Gobierno de Malta y obra del artista Manwel Grech, ganador del concurso que se organizó para su diseño.
El Nacimiento, colocado a los pies del obelisco de la Plaza de San Pedro, reproduce el paisaje maltés con su arquitectura, su fauna y flora locales.
También incluye la tradicional “cruz de Malta” y un “luzzu”, la típica embarcación de madera de Malta de color azul y amarillo que alude a la situación de los refugiados e inmigrantes que cruzan el Mediterráneo sobre barcazas para llegar a Europa.
La obra mide 17 metros de largo, 12 de profundidad y 8 de alto y cuenta con 17 figuras, sin contar las de los animales.
El papa Francisco recibió hoy a las delegaciones que han facilitado a la Santa Sede el portal y el abeto, y ante ellas comparó la tragedia que viven miles de inmigrantes que tratan de cruzar el Mediterráneo con el rechazo que María experimentó cuando no se le dio alojamiento para dar a luz a Jesús.
“En la experiencia dolorosa de estos hermanos y hermanas volvemos a ver la del niño Jesús, que en el momento del nacimiento no encontró alojamiento y vio la luz en la gruta de Belén”, dijo Francisco.
Fotos: AFP
![The Christmas tree is pictured at the Saint Peter's square following its illumination on December 9, 2016 in Vatican. This year, the Christmas ornaments were made by children of the paediatric oncology departments of Italian hospitals. / AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO](https://gitx.awsccs2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12-09/000_IY6ML.jpg?resize=640%2C427)
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![The Christmas tree is pictured at the Saint Peter's square following its illumination on December 9, 2016 in Vatican. This year, the Christmas ornaments were made by children of the paediatric oncology departments of Italian hospitals. / AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO](https://gitx.awsccs2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12-09/000_IY6MT.jpg?resize=640%2C427)
![The Christmas tree is pictured at the Saint Peter's square following its illumination on December 9, 2016 in Vatican. This year, the Christmas ornaments were made by children of the paediatric oncology departments of Italian hospitals. / AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO](https://gitx.awsccs2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12-09/000_IY6MX.jpg?resize=640%2C427)
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