Vatican Faces Backlash Over Christmas Tree Felling

Environmentalists criticize the Vatican for cutting down a 60-year-old spruce, questioning its alignment with Pope Francis's eco-conscious message.

The 29-meter spruce, sourced from the Ledro region in northern Italy, has been installed on St. Peter's Square, awaiting decoration and illumination on December 7.
Environmental activists from Ledro protested the tree's felling, labeling it a 'senseless massacre' and gathering 50,000 petition signatures to save it, but the tree was cut down regardless.
Critics highlighted the perceived contradiction between Pope Francis's advocacy for sustainability and the annual practice of cutting trees for Christmas displays.
The Vatican defended the decision, stating the tree was selected for ecological reasons, as it was due to be felled for sustainable forest management.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the Vatican's Christmas tree, with similar protests occurring in previous years, including a successful 2022 campaign to replace a felled tree with a nursery-grown alternative.