St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican is seen through the pope's Christmas tree after its lighting ceremony, Dec. 15, 2004. The 105-foot fir is more than a century old, and was given to Pope John Paul II by northern Italy's Trento region, in the Dolomites. The tree was hauled up by crane and placed next to a structure made for a life-sized nativity scene. (Photo: AP)
