Pope Benedict on the Christmas Tree

Today Pope Benedict talked briefly and beautifully about Christmas symbol and tradition:

[The Christmas Tree] is an important symbol of Christ's Nativity because with its evergreen leaves it recalls the life that does not die.

The tree and the nativity scene are elements of that typical Christmas atmosphere which is part of the spiritual heritage of our communities; an atmosphere suffused with religiosity and family intimacy which we must conserve even in our modern societies where the race to consumerism and the search for material goods sometimes seem to prevail.

Christmas is a Christian feast and its symbols, especially the nativity scene and the tree hung with gifts, are important references to the great mystery of the Incarnation and the Birth of Jesus, which are constantly evoked by the liturgy of Advent and Christmas. - CNA

The fir donated to the Vatican is 86 feet tall, 140 years old, and over 3 tons.

And I'm keeping my eyes out for a nice high-resolution picture of it on display in the square....

(... I think it might make a nice Christmas wallpaper.)