Environmental activists in Italy’s Trentino province have launched a campaign to prevent a tree from bein cut down.
An Annual Christmas Tree
The 200-year-old tree, dubbed the “Green Giant,” will be cut down for Vatican Christmas decorations in St. Peter’s Square.
Standing 29 meters (95 feet and 1 inch) tall, the tree is set to be cut next week in Ledro Valley and transported to the Vatican, where it will be unveiled on December 9.
Since 1982, the Vatican has received an annual Christmas tree, donated by Italian or other European regions, as a gesture of pride and goodwill, according to Digi24.
However, this year, several environmental groups in Trentino have voiced strong opposition, calling the planned felling of the ancient tree an “unnecessary sacrifice.”
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40,000 Sign Petition
Over 40,000 people have signed a petition, while Ledro residents, a town of roughly 600 people, are preparing to protest along the transport route.
In an open letter to Pope Francis, the activists argued that cutting down such an old and symbolic tree contradicts his previous calls to address the climate crisis.
They criticized the tradition, describing it as "consumer-driven" and unsustainable. The petition’s statement urged the public to resist “purely consumerist practices” that use living trees for “a few selfies and publicity.”
Ledro’s mayor, Renato Girardi, responded, expressing disappointment at the backlash, stating:
"They are ruining Christmas festivities over one tree."
He clarified that the tree in question would have otherwise been cut for wood, as it is part of a regulated forestry program.
He also rejected claims that 39 other trees would be felled, explaining that those intended for Vatican indoor displays would be sourced from specialized nurseries, not Ledro forests.
