Listen To Story Above
In the aftermath of Christmas celebrations, the Vatican’s Nativity Scene continues to stand prominently in St Peter’s Square, amidst a series of notable events marking the holiday period. During this time, Catholics observe commemorations of several significant religious figures, including St. John the Apostle, St. Stephen, and the Holy Innocents.
The peaceful post-holiday atmosphere was disrupted when a topless activist belonging to the Femen group attempted to remove the infant Jesus statue from the Nativity display. The incident, which occurred on Friday, ended quickly as Italian law enforcement officers intercepted and apprehended the protestor.
A topless woman attempted to steal a figurine of Jesus in the Vatican The incident took place at St. Peter's Square
A Femen activist climbed over a barrier and tried to take the figurine from the Nativity scene. Security personnel detained the woman. Femen explained that the… pic.twitter.com/ItYppMbRva
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 27, 2024
The activist’s actions were reportedly motivated by pro-Ukrainian sentiments. According to Reuters via Yahoo!: “The woman climbed over the barriers protecting the Nativity scene set up by the Vatican for Christmas but was immediately blocked by officers and taken away.”
Femen later released a statement explaining their motivation, claiming the demonstration was meant to draw attention to “Russia’s abduction of over 700,000 Ukrainian children, and the inaction of the Pope and international institutions.”
Watch a brutish Ukrainian feminist try to steal the figure of baby Jesus from a Christmas installation in Vatican, Rome. She was “protesting” against “100s of 1000s of kids” who were “stolen” by #Russia (emigrated there from #Ukraine💩 w their parents!)😂😂😂 #Ukraine #UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/KwXShyJwHX
— Soror Inimicorum 🇷🇺🇺🇸☦️ (@SororInimicorum) December 28, 2024
This incident follows a recent controversy involving the Vatican’s Nativity scene, where earlier this month, public outcry forced the removal of a Palestinian keffiyeh that had been placed beneath the infant Jesus figure.
In other Vatican news, Pope Francis marked a significant religious milestone on Christmas Eve by opening the Holy Doors, also known as the Sacred Portal. This ceremonial act inaugurates the 2025 Jubilee year, a period dedicated to spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and forgiveness. This special time in the Catholic calendar offers believers the opportunity to receive absolution from eternal or spiritual punishment through the confession of their sins.
