Inauguration of 'Mediterraneo' exhibition for the Trappist nuns in Syria

The paintings by the Swiss painter Mauro Valsangiacomo are on display. The Mediterranean, also with the drama of the refugees, is "an expanse of water from which" unfinished "forms emerge," the possibilities of a still unknown but positive future, full of hope ". The new monastery of the Trappist sisters will give work to the women left alone and hope for the young, helping Christians to remain in this land.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The exhibition entitled "Mediterraneo", which includes works by Mauro Valsangiacomo, opened yesterday at 6.00 pm in the AsiaNews exhibition hall. The Swiss painter has made available his paintings to support the construction of the monastery of the Trappist nuns "Our Lady of Peace" in Azeir in Syria.

Explaining his paintings to the audience, Valsangiacomo said that they depict "the Mediterranean, the sea, an expanse of water from which colored shapes emerge that meet and settle ". His intuition was born from being struck by the migrants' epic of rubber boats that plow that sea to find refuge and possibility of survival, even at the risk of life. This too, particularly today, is characteristic of the Mediterranean’s vocation, which has always been a meeting place for cultures and peoples. The unfinished, characteristic of his painting, and the warm colors used to express "the possibilities of a still unknown but positive future, full of hope".

Fr Bernardo Cervellera, director of AsiaNews, stressed that the Mediterranean drama, with "facts of blood and hope" also includes Syria, where a war that has lasted seven years and which has left almost 500,000 dead in its wake is still under way. But there are also signs of hope, like the Trappist community of the sisters of Azeir, almost all Italian, who have remained in the country in all these years of war, being close to the population and internal refugees. Citing a letter from the superior of the monastery, Mother Marta, he pointed out that the construction of the new monastery "helps Christians to remain in that land, as Pope Francis wishes" and supports young people to have faith and hope. In addition, the monastery has become a laboratory that offers work to many women left alone to support the family, after their husbands were killed or emigrated elsewhere. Sister Marta writes “We need as a monastery to create employment so that we can survive and so many women from our villages. We will not be able to do a lot, but at least give some family a job ... and if we start, others will be encouraged to do the same, to look for possible and creative solutions ... This was the idea that moved us ".

Anyone wishing to help support the construction of the Azeir monastery can do so according to the following methods:

Via post transfer n. 45443009

payable to Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions,

recipient: "AsiaNews-Syria"

Via bank transfer:

Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.) - AsiaNews

C / C 05000/1000/00118726

BANCA PROSSIMA S.p.a.

Per le Imprese Sociali e le Comunità Gruppo Intesa Sanpaolo

FILIALE DI MILANO

Address: PIAZZA PAOLO FERRARI, 10 20121 MILAN (MI)

IBAN: IT98G0335901600100000118726