For Artem Ad Deum, “through art to God”

This year, from 6 to 8 June, the XXIII Sacroexpo takes place in the Polish city of Kielce. It is a large International Exhibition of Construction and Equipment for Churches, Sacred Art and Devotional Objects.

Since 2005, on the occasion of the exhibition, a particular medal has been awarded: The “Per Artem ad Deum” Medal awarded by the Pontifical Council for Culture. This recognition has so far been granted to 30 personalities of culture and art, including composers Ennio Morricone, Krzysztof Penderecki and Arvo Part, director Krzysztof Zanussi.

This year, with the decision of the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Prize was awarded to the famous Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore: “For showing the truth, which is an emotional experience of the relationship with the Infinite and the Unknowable”. The Italian director’s artistic production includes many famous films, including: “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”, “Stanno tutti bene”, “Malèna” and “Una pure formality”. For many years the director collaborated with the composer Ennio Morricone, to whom he dedicated his latest documentary entitled “Ennio”.

Usually the medal is delivered in Poland, in Kielce, site of the Sacroexpo exhibition. But, this time, exceptionally, the prize was delivered to the Vatican, at the headquarters of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in the afternoon of 31 May. Giuseppe Tornatore received the medal and diploma from the hands of card. Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; the ceremony was attended by: Dr. Andrzej Mochoń, the President of Fiera Kielce (organizer of Sacroexpo), Msgr. Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, apostolic nuncio, Msgr. Marian Florczyk, auxiliary bishop of Kielce, monsignors from the Pontifical Council for Culture: Paul Tighe, secretary, Tomasz Trafny and Lech Piechota, and also Marek Sorgowicki, Chargé d’affaires of the Polish Embassy to the Holy See.

Tornatore said he was proud to receive an award that in the past had been assigned to the great artists and among them also his friend Ennio Morricone and moreover from the hands of Card. Ravasi in such a particular moment in his life. All this made the award ceremony exciting.

In the short conversation, the director shared some reflections with those present. He said, among other things: “Cinema has always been an instrument, a way of telling that always has a bearing on the human spirit, with spirituality. This does not necessarily mean that cinematic stories were born for this very reason. Some of the most famous films in the history of cinema referred to as examples of spirituality are often films that were not born for this reason. It is easier to intercept a sense of spirituality when telling a story that does not seek to impose a spiritual message from above. On the contrary, it is too difficult a subject, too delicate to be the subject of a strategy of choice. I believe that cinema, at different levels, is always closely linked with the meaning of human life. Some stories show this link more openly, in other cases this thread seems invisible, but I believe it is always there “.

For Artem Ad Deum, “through art to God”