Pope Francis' visit to the Vatican's Holy See pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale last Sunday, April 28, marked him as the first-ever pontiff-visitor of the renowned international cultural art festival.
Now 87-year-old, the Catholic Church leader touched down by helicopter in time for a tour of the exhibition: "With My Eyes," which showcases works by acclaimed artists Maurizio Cattelan, Simone Fattal, and Corita Kent, installed throughout the Giudecca Island women's prison.
The Pope's Inaugural Visit to the Venice Biennale
Amid his cultural and artistic excursion in Venice, the pope emphasized art's power as a tool to explore societal issues, saying that "the world needs artists. He specifically spoke about the monumental contributions of women artists like Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois, specifically for the city,
"I hope with all my heart that contemporary art can open our eyes, helping us to value adequately the contribution of women, as co-protagonists of the human adventure," expressed Pope Francis.
Along the way, the pope also met with the island penitentiary's some 80 female prisoners and offered them inspiration and motivation through words.
"Prison is a harsh reality, and problems such as overcrowding, the lack of facilities and resources, and episodes of violence, give rise to a great deal of suffering there," he shared. "But it can also become a place of moral and material rebirth."
"Paradoxically," he continued, praising their participation in the art exhibition, "a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others."
According to reports by Artnet and other publications, Pope Francis appeared engaged and appreciative of the exhibitions and the people alike, despite recent troubles related to health, including a case of bronchitis that necessitated the cancellation of his trip to Dubai last December.
Later in the day, the pope attended countless other appointments in the City of Canals, before giving an open-air mass to some 10,000 people in the iconic St. Mark's square.
In his speech, he spoke lovingly of the incredible beauty of the city, which was contrasted by his concern about climate change and "overtourism's" effect on it.
He also addressed a congregation of about 1,500 youth at the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, telling them to socialize more and avoid getting caught up with too many digital distractions.
