Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope Francis: Through beauty, artists make the world better

Pope Francis: Through beauty, artists make the world better

Last updated on: December 7, 2016 at 9:36 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: Through beauty, artists make the world better 2016-12-07T21:36:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Dec 7, 2016 / 02:36 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Beauty, under the care of artists, has the ability to transform even the everyday lives of men and women, Pope Francis said in a message for the annual meeting of the Pontifical Academies on Tuesday.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivered the Pope's message during the 21st public session Dec. 6, before presenting the winning artists of this year's Pontifical Academies Award, who are chosen by the Pope.

“Architects and painters, sculptors and musicians, filmmakers and writers, photographers and poets, artists of every discipline, are called to shine beauty especially where darkness or gray dominates everyday life,” the Pope wrote.

They “are the custodians of beauty, heralds and witnesses of hope for humanity.”

“I invite you, therefore,” he emphasized, “to cherish beauty, and beauty will heal the many wounds that mark the hearts and souls of the men and women of our day.”

Quoting Italian writer Italo Calvino, who said that “cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears,” the Pope pointed out the bleakness that often exists in both cities and suburbs, saying the lack of beauty leaves more room “for fear” than for the “beautiful dreams” of young people.

The role of beauty, therefore, he said, is to help draw us out of this “utilitarian pragmatism” we so often fall into. He quoted Laudato Si, saying, when we “do not learn to stop and admire and appreciate the beautiful, it is not strange” that we begin to turn everything into an object for use.

This is why beautiful buildings, especially beautiful churches, are so needed, he noted.

Especially when beautiful churches are located in underprivileged, or perhaps degraded, areas they offer, “even in their simplicity and essentiality, an oasis of beauty, peace, acceptance.”

By favoring “an encounter with God and communion with our brothers and sisters” they become a “reference point for the integral growth of all people, for harmonious development and supportive communities,” he said.

But it isn’t just grand works of architecture or other art which can bring beauty into the world, Francis stressed. Even “simple actions, small sparks of beauty and love” shown to the environment in which people live can bring healing and provide an alternative to indifference and cynicism.

This year’s winners of the Pontifical Academy Award were the young woman Chiara Bertoglio, for her research in musicology and literature, and for her many concert performances; and the young man Claudio Cianfaglioni, for his research on poetry, and for his study of significant contemporary literary figures, such as Fr. David Maria Turoldo, an Italian poet.

The award’s prize of 20,000 euros is divided between the winners, who are chosen based on their work’s exceptional contribution “to the development of Christian humanism and its artistic expressions.”

Reflecting on the theme of the session, which was about bringing a human aspect to cities through beauty, reminded Pope Francis of some of the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, he said.

“The present moment” he quoted Benedict XVI, “is sadly marked, not only by negative elements in the social and economic level, but also by a weakening of hope, by a lack of confidence in human relationships, so they grow signs of resignation, aggression and despair.”

Continuing to quote the recent pope’s Nov. 2009 speech to artists, he asked, “What is capable of restoring enthusiasm and confidence, what can encourage the human spirit to rediscover its path, to raise its eyes on the horizon, to dream of a life worthy of its vocation if not beauty?”

The “experience of beauty” is an important and even primary factor “in our search for meaning and happiness” and the experience liberates and transfigures our lives.

From this emerges the “important and necessary task of artists,” Francis explained, “particularly those who are believers and allow themselves be enlightened by the beauty of the gospel of Christ.”

“To create works of art that bring us, in the language of beauty, a sign, a spark of hope and trust where people seem to give in to indifference and ugliness.”

Vatican

Previous Post

December 7, 2016

Women at the Vatican form association for solidarity

Next Post

December 7, 2016 Ohio lawmakers revive 'heartbeat abortion' ban

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Abraham" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Father of many Shelter Blessed man Strong leader