The blessing of the ‘Bambinelli’: From Pope Paul VI to artistic display

By Alessandro De Carolis

“Children, isn’t the nativity scene something beautiful? Isn’t that true, you men who represent the world of work? Yes, it’s a beautiful thing; and for this reason we will immediately bless your statues of the Child Jesus from our window, and then we will go down to the square to bless the nativity scene that has been prepared here by the employees of the Vatican printing house.

The first blessing

It was Pope Saint Paul VI who, during his December 21, 1969 In the Angelus speech, he described the wonder aroused by the sight of the Christmas nativity scene before the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.

In this representation of the Nativity, the Pope spoke of a “lesson in Christian spirit” and a “message of virtue”.

He found in the cave which welcomed the Child Jesus “a prelude to a new life, a prelude so simple that even children understand it: what counts is goodness, simplicity”, innocence, “ and the feeling of being all friends and brothers.”

This image offered consolation, especially to Italy, shaken by the December 12 Piazza Fontana bombing in the center of the northern Italian city of Milan. Recalling the terrorist attack in which a bomb exploded at the headquarters of the Banca Nazionale dell’Agricoltura, Pope Paul VI, the previous week, had begun the Sunday Angelus with “sorrow for the vile and wicked terrorist crimes.” committed two days earlier.

The blessing of the toddlers

The tradition of Roman oratories

Today, fifty-five years later, we see that the gesture of Saint Paul VI established a tradition.

For the Roman Oratory Center, it has become a significant event on the calendar every mid-December.

Over time, Blessing Sunday Bambinelli It became an occasion for hundreds of boys and girls to gather in St. Peter’s Square, raising their little figurines of the Baby Jesus to the Pope’s window to receive his blessing.

The tradition has evolved into a structured event, enriched this year by the addition of an artistic competition.

A creativity competition

Next Sunday, December 22, various Roman oratories will gather under Bernini’s colonnade starting at 9 a.m., then travel to the basilica for a mass presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Then, they will return to St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus, bringing not only their Bambinellibut also paintings inspired by the Nativity and the theme “A heart of light”.

The works will be exhibited on the square itself and the winners will be honored during the Riconoscenz Festivala” (Feast of Recognition) on December 28 in Rome.