Faithful in front of the Nativity scene, in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican, December 13, 2020 -

Gregorio Borgia / AP / SIPA

  • The Vatican Christmas crib and its 28 m Christmas tree were inaugurated on December 11 in St. Peter's Square.

  • Cylindrical and inspired by contemporary art, the santons have provoked the ire of some faithful on social networks, for whom such a look is a "shame".

  • These statues on a human scale were nevertheless made in Castelli, a small village in Abruzzo (Italy) specializing in ceramic work since the 16th century in Italy, and have even been exhibited in the Holy Land.

Cylindrical and not very expressive characters, a funny warrior… And even an astronaut!

The extravagant look of the Christmas crib, inaugurated on December 11 at the Vatican, causes the "shame" of some faithful on social networks, while others believe in a hoax.

" It is serious ?

One of them asks.

For many Internet users the 2020 edition of the Vatican Nativity scene is the source of - Tom Hollmann

"It's all the hell", reacted on Twitter MEP RN Gilbert Collard, describing his figurines as "Playmobils" and "pagan totems".

Although original, this work, which was actually installed on the forecourt of Saint Peter's Basilica, is the result of the craftsmanship of a small village in Abruzzo and has already been exhibited in the Holy Land.

An artisanal ceramic crib

The 2020 edition of the Vatican Nativity scene comes from Castelli, a village of a thousand inhabitants specializing in ceramic work since the 16th century and located on the slopes of the Gran Sasso massif, in the center of the Italy.

Made by the students and teachers of the “FA Grue” art institute, specializing in the creation of works related to the Christmas theme, the ceramic santons were designed in the 1960s.

with annular modules which, when superimposed, form cylindrical busts.

Nineteen of the fifty-four original santons were brought to the Vatican to be enthroned alongside a 28m Slovenian spruce top.

These contemporary-looking statues also evoke Sumerian and Egyptian arts with their sarcophagus shapes and have already been exhibited in Rome, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

"Never like this year, the tree and the crib help to create the Christmas atmosphere favorable to living with faith the mystery of the birth [of Christ]", greeted Pope Francis, Friday, December 11, while he received a delegation from Castelli, a few hours before the inauguration of this “monumental ceramic crib”.

For the journalist and writer specializing in Vatincan Aldo Marria Valli, the choice of sculptures is a failure.

In a blog post, he bluntly and forcefully described “a horrible nursery, which is scary and will certainly make children cry.

"

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