In Italy, RCC priest suggests creating Nativity scene with a "girl Jesus"

Vitaliano Della Sala, a priest of the RCC. Photo: Tribune Chretienne

On December 3, 2025, a scandal erupted in Italy surrounding a Christmas Nativity scene following a statement by Catholic priest Vitaliano Della Sala, who proposed depicting Jesus Christ as a girl. He presented this initiative in an interview with a local Italian TV channel, as reported by Tribune Chretienne.

The priest explained that his idea is a form of "constructive provocation" intended to initiate a discussion about the role of women in the Catholic Church, including the possibility of their admission to the diaconate, priesthood, and episcopate. According to him, the fact that Christ was born a man supposedly cannot serve as an argument against expanding women's participation in church ministry.

Critics of the initiative note that such an approach distorts the foundations of Catholic doctrine. The male gender of Jesus Christ is considered by the Church as an integral part of the mystery of the Incarnation and has direct theological significance. Attempts to reinterpret this fact to meet modern ideological agendas are seen as a departure from Tradition and a substitution of faith with social activism.

Additional outrage was sparked by Della Sala's statement that the "girl-Jesus" figure could be intentionally damaged to symbolize the suffering of children – victims of wars. Commentators call such an idea blasphemous and emphasize that desecrating the image of the Savior cannot serve as a means of expressing compassion or protest.

As the publication notes, the priest was previously known for provocative actions: last year, he presented a Nativity scene with two mothers, one of whom was depicted in a rainbow veil. Meanwhile, the Church's position remains unchanged: special commissions have already confirmed that the RCC does not have the authority to change the sacramental nature of the priesthood. Critics emphasize that the intrusion of ideology into the symbols of Christmas leads to confusion among believers and the loss of the true meaning of the Christian feast.

Previously, the UOJ reported that in Italy, an RCC diocese rented out a church premises to a witchcraft school.

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