Vatican's Christmas tree reminds people Christ has come, pope says

Published: 2005-12-19

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The shining lights of the Vatican's towering Christmas tree should remind people that Christ, the light of the world, has come, Pope Benedict XVI told church and civic leaders from Austria. The region of Upper Austria donated the 98-foot tree, which was lighted during a Dec. 17 ceremony in St. Peter's Square. The pope held an audience with the Austrian delegation in the morning, while U.S. Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, president of the office governing Vatican City State, presided over the evening tree lighting. Pope Benedict told the Austrians, "At Christmas, in every part of the globe, the good news of the birth of the Redeemer echoes again: The awaited Messiah became man and came among us. "With his shining presence, Jesus has shattered the darkness of error and sin and has brought humanity the joy of his blazing divine light; the Christmas tree is a sign and reminder of this," he said.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .