Vatican Christmas tree goes up in St Peter's Square ahead of festive season

 VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A giant Christmas tree was installed in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday as the Vatican prepared for the festive season.

Workers used a crane to position the towering tree, which will be decorated and lit in a ceremony scheduled for early December.

The tree installation comes as Pope Leo sets off on his first trip outside Italy as leader of the Catholic Church, leaving Rome for Turkey, where he was expected to make appeals for peace in the Middle East and urge unity among long-divided Christian churches.