As Christmas season starts, Pope defends nativity scenes in public places

Pope Francis arrives for a visit at the nativity scene of Greccio, where the first nativity scene was assembled by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223, in the small Italian town of Greccio, Italy, December 1, 2019. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday defended the display of nativity scenes in town squares and other public places, which has become an annual contentious issue at Christmas time in countries such as the United States and France.

The pope travelled to the town of Greccio, east of Rome, to visit the spot where St. Francis of Assisi started the tradition by setting up the first nativity scene in 1223.