The traditional Christmas Nativity scene that adorns St Peter's Square, Vatican City will this year be dedicated to issues such as the environment, the refugee crisis, and those who are sick.

The display will feature a 25 metre-high spruce tree, and the whole scene will light up for its official inauguration on December 9, Vatican Radio reports.

The announcement came in a communiqué from the Vatican City's governing office, which explained the various details of the festive display.

As a tribute to the young and unwell, the Christmas tree will feature handmade ornaments with drawings by children currently being treated for cancer and other illnesses in various Italian hospitals. Promoting care of creation, the tree, which was sourced from Trentino in northern Italy, will be replaced by nearly 40 new spruce and larch seedlings in a nearby area.

Meanwhile, the expansive 19-metre wide Nativity scene will host 17 statues dressed in traditional Maltese vesture, and a replica of a traditional "Luzzu" Maltese boat. As well as referring to traditional images of fish and life, the communiqué said this boat points to the realities of life for migrants and refugees who cross treacherous waters on makeshift boats to Italy.

On December 9, shortly before the tree-lighting ceremony, Pope Francis will receive in audience artist Manwel Grech, who designed the scene, representatives from Trent and Malta and several of the children who made the Christmas tree decorations.

The tree will remain lit up in St Peter's Square through the Christmas season, until the feast of the Lord's Baptism on 8 January 2017.