Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday said people should build Nativity scenes for Christmas to help recreate the "mystery" of Jesus' birth on earth.

Benedict, speaking during his weekly general audience, was referring to the practice of using statuettes or carvings to represent the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem as celebrated by Christians at Christmas.

The Nativity scene or crib "is an important element, not only of our faith but also of Christian art and culture," Benedict said.

Nativity scenes are an age-old tradition in Italy, and Naples is famous for producing generations of highly skilled craftsmen who create intricate and colourful carvings, often set in a cave or a manger, the birthplace of Jesus as described in the Gospels.

Traditionally, Nativity scenes feature the baby Jesus, his mother Mary, foster father Joseph, shepherds who were first alerted to the birth and the Magi, or Three Wise Men, who bore gifts from the East.

However, some Nativity scenes in Italy also include figures from the worlds of cinema, politics and sport, with former football star and home-team favourite Diego Maradona a popular choice in Naples.

The Vatican builds its own Nativity scene on St Peter's Square, traditionally unveiling it on Christmas Eve, December 24. (dpa)