A traditional Maltese crib (presepju) is being inaugurated today in St. Peter’s Square Vatican City and has been presented to Pope Francis by Archbishop Scicluna. The crib is the work of Gozitan artist Manwel Grech.

The crib structure depicts typical cultural factors and specific characteristics of the Maltese landscape, including architecture, flora and fauna, as well as the traditional figures of the crib.

The crib will be on display from the first week of December till the 8th of January, and then will be brought back to Malta for eventual exhibition in a public space during subsequent Christmas periods.

There will also be a concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra on the 17th of December in the Papal Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome.

The orchestra will be accompanied by four famous soloists, the Soprano Jacquelyn Wagner, Alto Eva Vogel, the Tenor Daniel Kirch and Bass Gerd Grochowski, as well as Italian choir, the Coro dell ‘Accademia di Santa Cecilia. Entrance to the concert is free.This year’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square will highlight several issues such as care for the environment, the sick and migrants. A communique from the governing office of Vatican City said the 25 metre-high spruce tree for 2016 will come from the region of Trentino in northern Italy and when it’s cut down local school students will plant nearly 40 new spruce and larch seedlings in a nearby area to replace trees suffering from a parasite that had to be culled.

The tree will be adorned with handmade ornaments featuring drawings made by children undergoing treatment for cancer and other illnesses at several Italian hospitals.

The Nativity scene features 17 figures dressed in traditional Maltese costume as well as a replica of a traditional “Luzzu” Maltese boat.

The Holy Father said that this typical Maltese vessel, recalled “the sad and tragic reality of migrants on boats making their way toward Italy”, and he expressed the hope that “those who visit this nativity scene would be invited to rediscover its symbolic value,” which, he said, was “a message of fraternity, of sharing, of welcome and solidarity.”

Pope Francis concluded by telling those gathered that, “the crib and the tree form a message of hope and love, and help create a Christmas spirit that can draw us closer to living with faith the mystery of the birth of the Redeemer who came to this earth in simplicity and meekness.”

Below is the Address by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna on presentation of the Nativity Crib.

“Most Holy Father,

We thank you for the gift of this audience, of this encounter between a father and his children.

The crib given by Malta for Christmas 2016 brings with it a swathe of the Mediterranean Sea to Saint Peter’s Square. It is topped by a beautiful fir tree, donated by Trentino Alto Adige. North and South, the sea and the mountains meet in the embrace of the Bernini Colonnade.

Whoever admires the artistic oeuvre of Manwel Grech, son of the island and Diocese of Gozo, immediately immerses oneself in the ideal Maltese landscape that physically welcomes the blessed announcement of the angel to the shepherds in Bethlehem: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:10-12).

We find the luzzu, a colourful boat of our fishermen. It represents all the boats and ships that crossed our millennial history: invasions and rescues, fishing and piracy, emigration and immigration: shadows and light. The Apostle Paul landed among us because the ship that was carrying him here to Rome was shipwrecked. Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles: “Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold…They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island – it was an Alexandrian ship” (Acts 28:1-2; 10-11). The luzzu in Saint Peter’s Square becomes for us a celebration of our roots, of the encounter with the Apostle of the Gentiles. But it is also an urgent appeal for a generous commitment of welcome to the people who today cross the Mediterranean in search of our solidarity.

Your Holiness, among the statuettes of this year’s Nativity crib we also find the humble figure of the diocesan priest from Malta, Saint George Preca, born in 1880, died in 1962, beatified by Saint John Paul II in 2001 and canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. Dun Gorg, as he is known among us, is recognised as the great benefactor of our people for his untiring apostolate of catechesis, as well as for founding in 1907, the Societas Doctrinae Christianae, an association of lay catechists. In 1910, Dun Gorg started disseminating the devotion for the Gospel phrase: “Verbum Dei caro factum est”. In 1921 he launched the “Procession in honour of Baby Jesus” that is still held today in the streets of our towns and villages on Christmas Eve. Saint George Preca encouraged his catechists to give a small grotto with the Baby Jesus to all the girls and boys attending catechism classes for he wanted to ensure the presence of the Nativity crib in the heart of every family. For Dun Gorg, the Nativity crib was the “School of Bethlehem.” At this school one learns the virtue of humility, of silence, of obedience, of trust in divine providence, of poverty. Indeed, how we need to attend this School of Betlehem!

Our wish, Your Holiness, is that the gift of this Nativity crib be a sign of gratitude of all the Maltese for the mission that You fulfil as successor of Peter, a prayer for Your person on your approaching 80th birthday, and a sign of our cordial expression of filial devotion. Bless us all, Holy Father!”

+ Charles J. Scicluna

Archbishop of Malta.

Photographs: DOI/Omar Camilleri

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