This tradition in the Church originated in Rome more than 50 years ago during the papacy of Pope St. Paul VI. Since the early 1970s, children and families have filled St. Peter’s Square on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, to have the Baby Jesus figurine from their home nativity set blessed. The Baby Jesus figures are referred to as “Gesu Bambino” or “bambinelli.” During the pope’s Angelus address, he invites those present to hold up their bambinelli for a special blessing. The blessing is not just over ceramic or wood, but over the families and homes eagerly awaiting the coming of Jesus. Popes, from St. Paul VI to Pope Francis, and soon Pope Leo XIV, have blessed thousands of Bambinelli, encouraging families to place the newly blessed Christ Child in their crèche when Christmas begins.

Following the blessing, families return home and hide the bambinelli out of sight for the remainder of Advent, only placing it in the manger on Christmas Day. Many families place the bambinelli in a gift box so that it is the first gift the family opens on Christmas.

While it originated in Rome, over the decades this tradition has expanded throughout the world. Today, many of our local parishes participate in Bambinelli Sunday, inviting the faithful to bring their Baby Jesus from their home nativity scene to Mass to be blessed by the priest.

The Bambinelli speaks to a deeper spiritual connection—a reminder that Jesus desires to be near us, loved not only in church but within our homes. As the third week of Advent focuses on the virtue of joy, we can learn true joy in considering Jesus in the manger. Joy does not come from external circumstances and experiencing great fortune, but in being loved by the Lord and giving oneself as a gift. This is something the Holy Family knew well as they experienced great joy in the midst of hardship and knew that God was at work in their circumstances.

For more information about Bambinelli Sunday locally, contact your parish.

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