Pope Francis canceled traditional New Year’s Eve visit to the Huancavelica manger for fear of COVID-19

Pope Francis canceled his traditional New Year’s Eve visit to the manger in St. Peter’s Square out of concern that the coronavirus would spread among the assembled crowd, the Vatican reported.

The pontiff is usually received by the faithful when he visits the manger on December 31, after presiding over the New Year’s Eve ceremony and singing the Te Deum prayer.

But the Vatican indicated in a note on its agenda that “the event will not be held, to avoid concentrations and the consequent risks of contagion of COVID-19 ″.

Francis, 85, held his weekly general audience on Wednesday as usual in the Vatican’s Paul VI classroom, with masks and social distancing.

Like all countries in Europe, Italy – and by extension the small Vatican City State – faces an increase in coronavirus cases fueled by the new omicron variant.

Peruvian birth

The traditions and Christmas culture of the Chopcca community, in the Peruvian Andes region of Huancavelica, are the protagonists this year of the colorful Vatican Nativity Scene, which seeks to enhance “an imagery so different from the traditional manger“And show the world”the wealth of Peru”.

This was explained to Efe today by the Peruvian ambassador to the Holy See, Jorge Eduardo Román, who highlighted the opportunity for his country to present its traditional handmade nativity scene at the “center of christianity”, When 200 years of independence are celebrated.

Specifically, he distinguished the cultural richness of the people of Chopcca, “cultural heritage of Peru“, Which is represented”with the image of what an Andean Christmas is”.

The colorful costumes that characterize this community and that are worn by the characters of the manger, as well as the animals of the mountainous region that accompany them are the elements that the craftsmen of the manger have used to “bring a piece of Huancavelica“To the Vatican.

“With all this imagery so different from the traditional manger ”it has also sought to appreciate“ everything that the environment gives but that must be preserved”, Indicated the ambassador.

For her part, the birth architect Natali Luz explained that these 35 pieces made with resin, fiberglass and other waterproof materials, symbolize not only the material elements “but living culture, traditions and experiences”Of this community.

For this reason a “extraction of everyday items in the Peruvian Andes”Not only in the human figures but also in the animals that decorate the birth, among them the llamas that replace the camels, the alpacas, the condors or the chinchillas.

The characters that star in this Bethlehem, which can be visited from tomorrow, Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary, the Child Jesus, symbolize for their part “the union of the family in the Peruvian Andes“And the faith that helps”to live in a united and organized way”To the Chopcca people, explained the Bishop of Huancavelica Carlos Salcedo.