(ZENIT News / Rome, 11.12.2024).- In Italy’s Valley of Ledro, nestled near the old Austro-Hungarian border just kilometers from Lake Garda, locals are rallying to save a 200-year-old fir tree, famously known as the «Green Giant.» Towering at thirty meters and standing for centuries, this majestic tree has weathered wars, snowstorms, and survived the ax of carpenters. Now, it faces a new threat: being cut down and transported to Vatican City as the Christmas tree for St. Peter’s Square.
Residents of Ledro, who see the fir as more than just a tree, have written directly to Pope Francis in hopes of preventing what they deem an «anachronistic massacre.» They also launched a petition on Change.org, which has garnered 40,000 signatures so far, and secured legal counsel to help block the tree’s removal.
Local environmental advocates and community associations argue that cutting down a tree for a holiday display contradicts efforts to combat climate change. «Talking about protecting the environment means challenging outdated traditions like these,” they noted in a statement, emphasizing the contradiction of celebrating Christmas by sacrificing a tree that symbolizes nature itself. They propose decorating the fir where it stands in Passo Nota, allowing it to continue shading hikers who stop there after long climbs.
Residents further invoked Pope Francis’ own words on environmental stewardship, referencing his encyclicals calling for respect for nature. “We ask His Holiness to prevent this felling and instead come visit the Valley to experience its natural beauty firsthand,” the letter implores.
Beyond the emotional and environmental reasons, residents also have financial concerns. Lorenzo Vescovi, a representative from the Forty-Three Million Committee (a name symbolizing the 40 trees donated by the Ledro Council to the Vatican and the estimated three million Christmas trees cut down annually in Italy), notes that the transport of the Green Giant to the Vatican comes with a staggering €60,000 price tag. Many argue that the funds could be better used to address pressing needs within the Ledro community, such as medical care, where shortages of general practitioners are impacting health services.
The valley’s connectivity issues also factor into the locals’ case: a tunnel that links Ledro to nearby Riva del Garda has been closed for long periods due to structural problems, disrupting daily life and heightening the community’s calls for more effective infrastructure investment.
In their petition, Ledro residents offered an alternative: instead of sacrificing a living tree, why not consider an artistic, permanent installation crafted from wood of fallen trees, inspired by similar creations like the Vaia Dragon and the Bear of Molveno? Such a symbol, they suggest, would better embody the Pope’s environmental messages and could become a lasting testament to the Vatican’s commitment to ecological renewal.
As the petition gains momentum, the people of Ledro hope their voices will resonate in the Vatican, prompting a shift toward traditions that celebrate nature without taking it away.
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