Pope from hospital urges artists to ‘be guardians of the Beatitudes’
The pontiff is currently in stable conditions in a Rome hospital for bronchitis. For this reason, he did not recite the Angelus today; however, the written text was released. Francis greeted participants in the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture, and issued a new appeal for peace. He also thanked all those who are close to him at this time of poor health. The Beatitudes “overturn our worldly mentality,” he said, while “Artists are called to take part in this revolution.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis was prescribed “complete rest” after contracting bronchitis a few days ago that required hospitalisation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Although the pontiff did not recite the Angelus today, he had the written text released.
According to the latest update from the Vatican Press Office, the pope did not have any “episodes of fever” yesterday afternoon. Nevertheless, Card José Tolentino de Mendonça this morning read the homily prepared by the pontiff centred on the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture.
In his Angelus address, Pope Francis mentioned the celebration held today at 10 am in St Peter's Basilica, led by the Portuguese-born Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
“[T]his appointment,” he writes, “reminds us of the importance of art as a universal language that spreads beauty and unites peoples, contributing to bringing harmony into the world and silencing every cry of war.”
“I wish to greet all the artists who have participated,” he said, speaking directly to all the artists, including painters, musicians and poets, who came to the Vatican for the occasion. “I would have liked to be among you but, as you know, I am here at the Gemelli Hospital because I still need some treatment for my bronchitis.”
The pontiff also greeted the throngs of pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee, gathered in St Peter's Square to hear the Sunday Marian prayer, calling on everyone to pray for “peace in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and all the Middle East, Myanmar, Kivu and Sudan.”
Francis expressed his gratitude “for the affection, prayer and closeness" shown to him during this time of illness. He also “thank[ed] the doctors and healthcare workers in this hospital for their care: they do such a valuable and tiring job, let us support them with prayer!”
Card José Tolentino de Mendonça read the pope’s homily, centred on the Gospel of the day (Lk 6:17, 20-26), in which Jesus shares the Beatitudes with “his disciples and [. . .] a large crowd of people,” noting that these blessings “never cease to amaze us”.
“These words overturn our worldly mentality and invite us to look at reality with new eyes, with God’s gaze, so we can see beyond appearances and recognize beauty even amidst frailty and suffering,” the prefect said, reading from the prepared text.
“The contrast between ‘blessed are you’ and ‘woe to you’ reminds us of the importance of discerning where we find our security,” he added, noting that the second part of the text also includes admonitions.
“As artists and representatives of the world of culture, you are called to be witnesses to the revolutionary vision of the Beatitudes,” the cardinal said. “Your mission is not only to create beauty, but to reveal the truth, goodness and beauty hidden within the folds of history, to give voice to the voiceless, to transform pain into hope.”
The goal is to transform “the spiritual crisis,” which is “a crisis of meaning” in today’s world. “Artists have the task of helping humanity not to lose its way and to keep a hopeful outlook,” Pope Francis said.
But hope, to which the current Holy Year is dedicated, is not "easy, superficial, superficial or abstract.” Indeed, “True hope is interwoven within the drama of human existence. Hope is not a convenient refuge, but a fire that burns and irradiates light, like the word of God,” the prefect read.
For the pontiff, “The mission of the artist is to discover this hidden greatness and reveal it, making it perceptible to our eyes and hearts.”
“Dear artists, I see in you guardians of beauty who are willing to attend to the brokenness of our world, listen to the cry of those who are poor, suffering, wounded, imprisoned persecuted or refugees. I see in you guardians of the Beatitudes!”
Starting from the observation that walls are being raised nowadays and differences feed divisions rather than "mutual enrichment", Francis told artists that they can subvert this.
“But you, men and women of the world of culture, are called to build bridges, to create spaces for encounter and dialogue, to enlighten minds and warm hearts.”
Above all, “art is not a luxury, but something that the spirit needs. It is not a flight from reality, but a charge, a call to action, an appeal and a cry. Educating about true beauty is educating about hope.”
Lastly, “Artists are called to take part in this revolution,” Pope Francis said, regarding the “change of mentality” that the Beatitudes propose.
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