Artists meet Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict XVI greets representatives from the Arts world in the Vatican

On 21st November 2009, Dr Ciarán Ó Coigligh was among an invited group of artists at a special meeting with Pope Benedict in the Vatican.  Beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo, the Pope told the meeting of some 250 artists that he wanted to "renew the Church's friendship with the world of art."  Pope Benedict told his audience: "Through your art, you yourselves are to be heralds and witnesses of hope for humanity … You are the custodians of beauty: thanks to your talent, you have the opportunity to speak to the heart of humanity, to touch individual and collective sensibilities, to call forth dreams and hopes, to broaden the horizons of knowledge and of human engagement.”

A Vatican source explained that the event is aimed to be representative of the desire for dialogue between the Church and the world of the arts. 

After the meeting there was a reception in the Vatican Museum where the invited artists received a medal specially struck for the occasion.

 

 

 

Last Updated: Monday March 08 2010