Antonio Percario, Skål International Membre d'Honneur, meets Pope Francesco

Antonio Percario, Skål International Membre d'Honneur meets Pope Francesco on the occasion of the inauguration of the tree and crib in St. Peter's Square with the switching on of the Christmas lights.

The tree was donated by the Municipality of Rosello in the Abruzzo region, and the nativity scene by the municipality of Sutrio in the Friuli Friuli Venezia Giulia region.


As Pope Francis said: “The tree teaches us the roots, the crib invites us to contemplation”.

Antonio Percario, born in Rosello, with Alessio Monaco, mayor of Rosello.

It was Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Sister Raffaella Petrini, respectively president and general secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, who inaugurated the nativity scene and lit up the Christmas tree.

For the artistic crib - made entirely of wood - the president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Massimiliano Fedriga, and the mayor of Sutrio, Manlio Mattia, were present.

At the lighting of the Christmas tree, the bishop of Trivento, monsignor Claudio Palumbo, and the mayor of Rosello, Alessio Monaco.

The majestic silver fir was decorated with decorations prepared by the children of the ‘Quadrifoglio’ psychiatric rehabilitation residential facility, in collaboration with the grandparents of the ‘Sant'Antonio’ elderly reception center in Borrello and the pupils of the schools of Pizzoferrato, Quadri and Villa Santa Maria.

The nativity scene and the tree in St. Peter's Square will remain on display until the end of the Christmas season, which coincides with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday 8 January 2023.