With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St Peter's Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the Pope.
Many children came with small figurines for their family Nativity scene, others held delicate sculptures, and one group set a giant statue of the Baby Jesus on top of stacks of hay bales. "All the joy in a crib," said the banner in front of the display.
Blessing the statues after reciting the Angelus prayer on December 16, Pope Francis told the little ones, "Dear children, may you feel wonder when you gather in your homes in prayer before the Nativity, gazing at Baby Jesus."
