The fir tree that is to stand at the
centre of St Peter's Square over the Christmas period was on
Tuesday making its way from the northwestern Piemonte region to
the Vatican, where it will be lit up on December 9 at 5 pm local
time.
On Monday the 'Pope's Christmas tree' was airlifted by
helicopter from the Maira valley in the province of Cuneo and
loaded onto a truck for the onward journey by road.
"In Piemonte trees are important, we don't cut them down for no
reason," said regional governor Alberto Cirio, who was present
at the send-off.
"This fir tree had to be felled because it was at risk of
falling, after 56 years. The felling had already been planned
and authorised by the Region," he continued, insisting that
there had been "no unnecessary 'sacrifice'".
Cirio added that after the Christmas period the wood will be
used to make toys for children that will be distributed through
the Catholic relief organisation Caritas.
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