In the early hours of Thursday, November 23, the eagerly awaited Christmas tree was placed in the center of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

The Christmas spirit is already beginning to be felt in Rome. The first lights adorn its intricate streets and shop windows display moss and cardboard decorations, which in the coming days will host the figures of the Nativity.

This year, the tree decorating one of the world's most visited squares is a nearly 25-meter tall white fir from Piedmont, from the Alpine valley named after the stream that runs through it: the Maira, in the municipality of Macra (Italy).

The decoration and lighting of the fir tree, which will take place as every year in the presence of Pope Francis, is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, at 5 PM (Rome time).

The majestic 56-year-old tree, which was at risk of collapsing, was felled and collected by helicopter last Wednesday and transported by truck to the Vatican.

After Christmas, Vatican News reports, the wood from this tree will be turned into toys for needy children, which will be donated to Caritas for distribution.

This article was originally published on ACI Prensa.