The life of Saint Peter on the facade of the Vatican Basilica

Combining art and faith, itineraries proposed by the pastoral care of Saint Peter’s Basilica were presented in the Press Room of the Holy See. From October 2, a video will be projected on the facade of the basilica to present the life of Saint Peter.

Paolo Ondarza – Vatican City

Show the face of the mother Church which welcomes everyone and knows how to address a word of authority to everyone. This, in the words of the Vicar General for Vatican City, is the objective of the itineraries of art and faith that will be offered in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti spoke this Tuesday in the Press Room of the Holy See.

Towards the Jubilee

“What is the face of the Church? That of the Pope? That of the missionaries? That of scandals? That, doctrinal, of the catechism or that of social commitment? We need to dust off the mirror so that the reflected image is sharper and more readableaffirmed the prelate whose thoughts are already projected towards the next Jubilee of 2025. Some 30 million pilgrims are expected in Rome for the event and “it is to them that we want to show an authentic image of the Church»founded on Peter and his profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

Images, sounds and words

This is why the first initiative of this route consists of a projection on the facade of Saint Peter’s Basilica of a video dedicated to the life of Saint Peter, on October 2 at 9 p.m. Lasting about 8 minutes, it will be broadcast from October 2 to 16, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., every 15 minutes. The scenes recount, in the first person, the salient moments of Peter’s life: from the call to martyrdom. Italian actor Flavio Insinna will be the voice of Saint Peter. Subtitles will be offered in other languages.

Peter, humanity and spirituality

The facade of the basilica thus becomes one of the most evocative screens in the world. The iconographic directories are those of the Fabrique de Saint-Pierre and the Vatican Museums with images of great artists such as Raphael, Perugino and Guido Reni. The story is structured by technological tools capable of enhancing and harmonizing figures, sounds and words, in an intertwining between ancient and modern, between new technologies and the timeless artistic heritage preserved in the Vatican. . The objective is to encourage pilgrims and visitors to know the humanity and spirituality of the apostle, his leaps, his falls, his tenacity, his doubts, his tears, thus having the possibility of recognizing himself in his experience. of life.

Itineraries of art and faith

The itineraries of art and faith, offered in synergy by the chapter of Saint-Pierre, the parish of Saint-Pierre and the foundation Fratelli Tutti, include a series of meetings entitled “Lectio Petri” which will take place in the basilica from next October 25 with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Department for Culture and Education; the spiritual itineraries in the troubled places of the city of Rome organized from the month of December in collaboration with the Vicariate of Rome; the proposal for a Via Petri in 12 stations, a pious practice which describes the parable of the life of the apostle; the daily prayer at the Stone Tomb offered to pilgrims and visitors with the recitation of the Rosary. “In this way, explained Cardinal Gambetti, we want to give an impulse to people so that as pilgrims to the Tomb of Peter, they can have an experience of faith, an encounter with the Lord, recognize themselves as brothers and leave renewed in depth“.

The school of arts and crafts is reborn

Among the most interesting initiatives is the revival of a tradition rooted in centuries past: the “school of arts and crafts”. “Our mission is to promote fraternity and social friendship”explains Father Francesco Occhetta, Secretary General of the Foundation Fratelli Tutti. “The school will start in January in collaboration with the Fabrique de Saint-Pierre. For six months, we will welcome about twenty young people who will learn from our workers in the basilica the art of mosaic, carving and carpentry”.

The center and the peripheries

“Hopeconcluded Cardinal Gambetti, is that everyone can get to know the beautiful and luminous face of the Church of Jesus. The centrality of the Church of Rome is a fact, but for it to be useful and significant, it must be animated and supported by the Churches scattered throughout the world.. The necessary union between the center and the peripheries will be clearly visible in June, for example, when the “Brotherhood Festival» will take place in St. Peter’s Square, an event linked to different places in the world where various artistic expressions linked to different peoples and cultures will alternate.

The life of Saint Peter on the facade of the Vatican Basilica – Vatican News