After Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Wednesday, he will place the Baby Jesus figure in the crib inside the Chapel of the Presentation, officials said.
Meanwhile, crowds were forming in St. Peter's Square Wednesday to view the massive Christmas fir tree and life-sized nativity donated by Italian cities Catanzaro in the south, and Verona in the north.
But for millions of Catholics around the world, the big event will be the celebration of Christmas Eve Mass by Francis, marking his second Christmas as leader of the Church.
Mass is scheduled to being at 9:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday and Vatican officials say two families with children will assist by bringing in the Eucharist for Holy Communion during Mass, to mark the beginning of the Church's year of the family in 2015.
A procession of 10 children representing different parts of the globe will also participate, Vatican officials said.
But many hours before then, the Baroque St. Peter's Square designed by master Gian Lorenzo Bernini will be crammed with visitors anxious to see Francis on giant video screens erected in the square and down Via della Conciliazione.
Classical music by Mozart, a favourite of former Pope Benedict XVI, will be performed during the evening, Vatican official said.
Long queues will also curl around the piazza with visitors anxious to see the full-sized nativity scene.
Recently, Francis said the life-sized crib figures, donated by Verona's Arena Foundation, as well as the Catanzaro fir tree will be greatly admired by pilgrims to the Vatican from across the globe.
Both the great tree and the nativity scene call to mind the light that Jesus brought into our world and speak of brotherhood, friendship, sharing and solidarity, Francis said recently.
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