Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Vatican's Nativity Scene Is Getting Roasted For Looking Like Something Out Of 'Star Wars'

The Vatican's Nativity Scene Is Getting Roasted For Looking Like Something Out Of 'Star Wars'
Reuters/YouTube

In recent years, the Holy See's exhibition depicting the birth of Jesus has typically been unorthodox in its interpretations.

But this year's nativity installation, which the Vatican called "contemporary and unconventional," is getting widely panned by both ground visitors and social media users.


Mary, Joseph and the shepherds look like chess pieces with cylindrical bodies and large spherical heads, while box-shaped and legless animals remain squatting nearby.

But the main culprits for the controversy are in the anachronistic presence of an astronaut and a malevolent figure eerily reminiscent of Darth Vader from Star Wars.






@Qstang2/Twitter


The modernist take on the presepe–which is Italian for Nativity scene–was created between 1965 and1975 by students and teachers from the F.A. Grue Art Institute in Castelli–a town known for its ceramic heritage.

Forbes explained the Vatican's nativity scene in recent years intentionally incorporated elements that were out of place to signify a particular event from that year.

The spaceman was an apparent homage to the 1969 moon landing.

The St. Peter's Diocese website explained:

"The teachers and students wanted to immortalize important events of the contemporary world,"
"And so within the work we find eccentric statutes compared to the traditional figures of the nativity, such as the astronaut, which is a reference to the conquest of the moon."

The visit by the iconic space villain to witness the sacred birth, however, remains a mystery.

You can watch the news report of this year's nativity scene in St. Peter's Square, here.

youtu.be

Other reviews for this year's crèche were less forgiving.





Art-historian Elizabeth Lev said of the criticism for the exhibit:

"It's so divisive, I don't hear a lot of people defending it."
The Duquesne University professor added that people look to the Vatican for "the tradition of beauty."
"We keep beautiful things in there so that no matter how awful your life is, you can walk into St. Peter's and that's yours, that's part of who you are, and it reflects who you are and the glory of who you are."
"I don't understand why we'd turn our back on that. It seems to be part of this strange, modern loathing and rejection of our traditions."

But Alfredo Chiarelli, a 65-year-old vendor in St. Peter's Square for 30 years, expressed disappointment over the display's uninspired aesthetic, especially in these rough times.

Chiarella told Reuters:

"With this global pandemic and everything else the Christian people, or anyone for that matter, was expecting a sign of rebirth."
"It has confused and saddened a lot of people."

The Vatican's nativity will remain on display until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 10, 2021.

More from Trending

Hillary Clinton
Kimberly White/Getty Images for Common Sense Media

Hillary Clinton Has Iconic Reaction To Trump Administration's 'Atlantic' Text Scandal

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a succinct response after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vivian Jenna Wilson; Elon Musk
@vivllainous/TikTok; Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Epically Claps Back After Musk Claims His Child 'Died'

Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, used an iconic soundbite from RuPaul's Drag Race to clap back at Musk's claim that his child had "died."

The SpaceX co-founder responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) defending Musk for appearing to give the Nazi salute twice at Republican President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Mike Myers and Mark Carney
@MarkJCarney/X

Mike Myers Joins Canada's New Prime Minister For Epic Jab At Trump In Viral Video

Actor and comedian Mike Myers has gone viral after joining Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for a video message that mocks President Donald Trump and his plan to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.

In the Liberal Party skit, Mike Myers and Mark Carney—both dressed in red Canada jerseys—share a moment at a hockey practice. Carney starts off skeptical of Myers, questioning his Canadian credentials since he now lives in the United States, despite being born and raised in Canada.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Buttigieg
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg Drops F-Bombs After Trump Administration Invites Journalist Into High-Level Military Group Chat

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg passionately spoke out after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump with Easter bunny at 2017 Easter egg roll
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Blasted After Turning Annual White House Easter Tradition Into Corporate Grift

President Donald Trump has sparked concerns from ethics experts after soliciting corporate sponsors for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Potential sponsors of the April 21 event were presented with three sponsorship options ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, according to a nine-page guide reviewed by The New York Times.

Keep ReadingShow less