Saint Peter’s Square has become a place of deep Redemptorist memory and joy on Monday evening 15th December 2025. In the Vatican’s Nativity scene for Christmas, Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori appears at the very heart of the crib, seated at a harpsichord and appears to be singing the song that have shaped generations of faith: Tu scendi dalle stelle. For the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and especially for the people of Pagani and the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore–Sarno, this is more than an artistic tribute. It is a moment of recognition of a saint whose message continues to speak powerfully to the Church and the world.
A gift from the Diocese to the universal Church
The Nativity scene installed in St Peter’s Square comes from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore–Sarno, where Saint Alphonsus spent his final years and where his mortal remains rest today. The crib brings together faith, history and local culture, with architectural elements inspired by the Paleochristian Baptistery of Nocera Superiore, traditional courtyard houses and the familiar stone and colours of Campania. Speaking about the meaning of this Nativity, Bishop Giuseppe Giudice, Bishop of Nocera Inferiore–Sarno, stressed that the message of Saint Alphonsus echoes strongly from this crib. He described Saint Alphonsus as one of the greatest gifts that the diocese could offer to the whole Catholic world — a saint whose pastoral heart, theological clarity and closeness to ordinary people remain deeply relevant today. Placed among children, shepherds and village life, Saint Alphonsus is shown not as a distant figure, but as a pastor close to prayer, music and daily human experience. A pendulum clock beside him recalls his simple habit of stopping every hour to say a Hail Mary, a small but telling sign of a life rooted in constant trust in God.
A song that still touches hearts
At the centre of the scene, we see Saint Alphonsus ‘sings’ Tu scendi dalle stelle, the Christmas carol he composed in 1754 so that even the poorest could understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. Written first in local dialect and later translated into Italian, the hymn expresses the wonder of a God who chooses poverty, humility and closeness.
On Monday at 17.00 (Vatican time), as thousands of pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square, the choir sang Tu scendi dalle stelle, filling the Vatican with a warm and unmistakable Christmas atmosphere. The familiar melody drew people together, turning the square into a place of shared memory and joy.
Crib, Cross and Sacrament: the heart of Redemptorist spirituality
The presence of Saint Alphonsus in the Vatican crib also speaks clearly of Redemptorist spirituality, which has always revolved around three inseparable realities: the crib, the cross and the sacrament. The crib reveals a God who draws close, who becomes small and accessible, choosing the poor and the simple. The cross shows the depth of that love, carried to the end, embracing suffering and human weakness. The sacrament, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, makes this redeeming love present and available here and now. By placing Saint Alphonsus at the heart of the Christmas scene, the Vatican highlights this spirituality of incarnate mercy — a faith that does not remain abstract, but enters homes, villages and consciences. It is the same spirituality that moved Saint Alphonsus to preach missions, defend moral conscience, and proclaim that God’s mercy is always greater than our fears.
A Jubilee message of hope
This year’s Nativity is also marked by strong Jubilee symbolism. An anchor-shaped comet dominates the scene, a fisherman points towards the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, and a staircase symbolises the journey from old life to new life in Christ. Saint Alphonsus fits naturally into this Jubilee vision. His theology of mercy, his compassion for sinners, and his insistence on hope all speak directly to a Church called to be welcoming, patient and close to wounded humanity.
A Redemptorist witness for today
The Vatican’s decision to honour Saint Alphonsus in this way is a quiet but powerful statement. It affirms a spirituality of closeness, simplicity and trust in God’s redeeming love. It also recognises the enduring contribution of the Redemptorist charism to the life of the Church. As the lights shine on the Nativity in St Peter’s Square, the voice of Saint Alphonsus seems to rise once again — not only in song, but in message — reminding the world that God still comes down from the stars, choosing to dwell among his people.
From the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, in Trentino-Alto Adige, comes the approximately 27-meter-tall Norway spruce that is raised in St. Peter’s Square. It is being donated jointly by the municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo. The tree originates from the Ultimo Valley, a 40-kilometer-long Alpine valley located in western South Tyrol, ending in the town of Lana.
Francis (Prince) Thekkapuram, CSsR
