Lighting of Vatican Christmas Tree & St. Peter’s Basilica

Aleteia - published on 12/20/14

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Visitors to the eternal city will now see St. Peter’s Basilica in a whole new light. St. Peter’s dome and facade have been renovated with 315 LED light points, the same lighting system that was used to provide new light to the Sistine Chapel. The relighting of the Vatican Basilica took place at the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony last evening, December 19, in St. Peter’s Square.

Here is an English translation of the audio from the lighting ceremony contained in this video:

Cardinal Giuseppe Bertollo: “First the Cupola will be lit, then after a few seconds, the facade.”

Cardinal Angelo Comastri (Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica): “Very beautiful. I would like to highlight the beauty of the Cupola by Michaelangelo, and the beauty of Maderno’s facade. To be sure, everything has been brought more to life. Thank you to all those who set up the manger scene, thank you to all the technicians who worked so well. I think they can take great satisfaction in the beautiful surprise they gave us all.

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