O presépio na Basílica de São Pellegrino, no Vaticano.

It welcomes all who come near with an invitation to ponder the mystery of Christ’s birth. In it, a member of the Band of the Gendarmerie Corps standing and facing out from the Nativity Scene is seen joining in with the choir of Angels to render the chant Venite Adoremus. With his music breaking the silence of night heralding so marvelous a tidings that the Lord has been born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary.A major representation of him is found within a rather unusual Nativity scene at the Church of San Pellegrino in the Vatican, composed of all those elements belonging to the Directorate of Security Services and Civil Protection—Gendarmes, Firefighters dressed in their working uniforms as well as many service people. All these figures turn toward the Nativity, thus keeping a collective vigilance with faith and service.Work, known to Maestro Domenico Bonifacio—an artist famous for the Nativity in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace and many other works—is more than just a figurative narration. In well-made material, signs of Mount La Verna—the place wherein Saint Francis received the stigmata—can be noticed.At the core of the composition lies a symbolic representation embodied by two uniformed figures, serving as the essential narrative pivots of the entire scene. The Gendarme on duty: situated to one side, vigilant and unwavering, he symbolizes the historical obligation of safeguarding the See of Peter. Within him, duty manifests as a silent and enduring presence, functioning as a discreet yet vital bulwark.The kneeling Gendarme shows the heart of the Corps. He is someone who having set aside the burdens of his role sees himself as a seeker before the Mystery. On the left side of the Nativity, three Gendarmes in uniform—one from the old Pontifical Gendarmerie and two from today’s Vatican Corps—talk with each other. They make up an ideal link that crosses time. In their exchange lives a steady line of faithfulness and service to the Church; a pledge always kept.The Nativity is set among the ruins of a pagan building, put there on purpose as a sign of the win for Christianity.In this place, you can also see a small holy shrine built for Saint Michael the Archangel who is known as the heavenly protector of the Corps.A scene of common life takes place on the right, in an area that recalls the Campo de’ Fiori section of Rome. A shepherd leads his sheep toward the Nativity. He carries a basket with fruit from the land to give as an offering to the Savior.The Fontana delle Api is at the core of the Presepe, designed with considerable accuracy and care. It functions not only as a building component but also as a location filled with memories: for long years, the fountain offered comfort to the guards carrying out border tasks near the Sant’Anna gate. In this Nativity scene, history, tradition, and faith come together to honor all those who work every day for the Successor of Peter and the State of Vatican City.