Pope John Paul, battling to keep Christ in Christmas, has defended nativity scenes that are being stripped from holiday celebrations in some Italian schools to avoid offending non-Christians.
"It is an element of our culture and of art, but above all a sign of faith in God, who came to Bethlehem to live among us," the pope said on Sunday.
Earlier this month, an elementary school in the city of Treviso decided that Little Red Riding Hood would be this year's Christmas play instead of the traditional Christmas story.
The teachers said the famous tale was a fitting representation of the struggle between good and evil and would not offend Muslim children. The school's traditional nativity scene was scrapped for the same reason.
In another school near Milan, the word "Jesus" was removed from a Christmas hymn and substituted with the word "virtue". In Vicenza province an annual contest for best nativity scene in schools was cancelled.
"Big or small, simple or elaborate, the nativity scene constitutes a familiar and, moreover, an expressive representation of Christmas," the pope said.
The appeal came during his annual blessing of Baby Jesus dolls, which will be placed in nativity scenes in churches, schools and family homes.