Vatican’s Pro-Life Nativity Scene Highlights Lives Saved

The head of an international pro-life organization recently commended the Vatican for unveiling a Nativity scene that symbolizes the more than 25,000 babies that have been saved from abortion this year through the group’s advocacy. Sean Carney, CEO and founder of 40 Days for Life, mentioned in an interview that the Vatican reached out about creating a scene illustrating a baby saved due to their efforts, which included prayers and vigils outside abortion clinics.

“It’s really beautiful,” Carney remarked, adding that the artist crafted the manger from straw made of 25,000 ribbons, with each ribbon symbolizing a child saved through their campaign.

The Nativity scene was designed by Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz Soto and given as a gift by Costa Rica. It features colorful ribbons dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the baby who was not aborted. Pope Leo XIV, during a recent audience with donors responsible for the Vatican’s Christmas decorations, described the Nativity as reflective of “faith and hope.”

Each ribbon in the scene, he noted, signifies a life preserved thanks to the prayers and support from Catholic organizations aimed at assisting mothers. The pope personally blessed the display and thanked the artist for sending a powerful message about the sanctity of life from conception.

Carney expressed how the birth of Christ offers a “touching” and “beautiful” narrative, especially against a backdrop of troubling news from the U.S. and around the globe. “This display signifies good news,” he stated.

He further elaborated that the Nativity holds a central place not just in Catholicism but for all Christians and, particularly, in the pro-life movement. Carney emphasized, “Our Lord could have come to save us in any way, but He chose a family to bring His son into the world from the womb, which, statistically, is the most hazardous place.” This reflects concerns Carney shared about the state of families today, and he believes the Nativity speaks to those seeking hope in an often dark world.

Carney spoke to the significance of the display amid the larger context of societal issues, asserting that 2025 marked a landmark year for the pro-life movement, with hopes for even greater progress in the future. “If we prayerfully commit ourselves, we can eradicate abortion,” he stated.

Additionally, he pointed out that the Nativity resonates with the scientific truth about life in the womb alongside the Biblical narrative of Jesus’s birth.

Overall, Carney feels optimistic that Pope Leo XIV’s stance and advocacy can serve as a powerful force against abortion, remarking that the pope’s recent articulation reflects a growing support for the pro-life cause.