Vatican Christmas tree to be recycled into toys

Vatican officials said the wood of the Christmas tree in St Peter’s Square in Rome will be recycled to make toys for needy children. The 33-metre-high tree, which came from the forests of southern Austria, was lit at an afternoon ceremony last Saturday.

The Vatican said all the wood from the 120-year-old tree will be recycled to make toys for needy children and garden furniture such as benches for schools. The decision to recycle the wood from the tree was the Vatican’s latest effort to go green. Last month it activated a large system of solar panels on the roof of its audience hall and announced an ambitious plan that could one day make it an alternative energy exporter.