By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“The Church is the pilgrim people of God on earth who, drawing precisely on the final promise, reads and interprets the dynamics of history through the Gospel, denouncing evil in all its forms and proclaiming, in word and deed, the salvation that Christ wishes to bring about for all humanity and His Kingdom…”

Pope Leo XIV stressed this at his weekly General Audience on Wednesday morning in the Vatican as he continued to reflect on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, reflecting this week on the eschatological dimension discussed in Chapter VII.

READ POPE LEO’S FULL ADDRESS

The Holy Father reminded the faithful that the Church journeys through earthly history always looking towards Her final destination, which is the heavenly homeland, yet lamented that we often overlook or downplay this essential dimension.

He said this tends to happen “because we are too focused on what is immediately visible and on the more concrete dynamics of the life of the Christian community.”

The Kingdom of God, he underscored, is the purpose of all Her action.

“The Church,” he said, “does not proclaim herself; on the contrary, everything within Her must point to salvation in Christ.”

Speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life

“As the guardian of a hope that enlightens the path,” Pope Leo recalled, “the Church is also invested with the mission of speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life and prevents its development, and to take a position in favour of the poor, the exploited, the victims of violence and war, and all those who suffer in body and in spirit.”

“From this perspective,” Pope Leo stressed, “the Church is called to recognize humbly the human fragility and transience of Her own institutions which, despite being at the service of the Kingdom of God, bear the fleeting image of this world.”

“No ecclesial institution,” the Pope said, “can be treated as absolute; indeed, since they exist within history and time, they are called to continual conversion, to the renewal of forms and the reform of structures, to the continual regeneration of relationships, so that they may truly fulfil their mission.”

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom

“Jesus initiated the Church precisely by proclaiming this Kingdom of love, justice and peace,” and therefore, the Pope said, “We are therefore called to consider the community and cosmic dimension of salvation in Christ and to turn our eyes to this final horizon, to measure and evaluate everything from this perspective.”

Since the Church lives in history in the service of the coming of the Kingdom of God in the world, Pope Leo explained that accordingly, “She proclaims the words of this promise to all and always,” “receives a pledge of it in the celebration of the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist,” and “puts its logic into practice.”

Furthermore, he added that the Church knows She is “the place and the means where union with Christ is realized ‘more closely,’ whilst at the same time recognizing that salvation can be bestowed by God in the Holy Spirit even beyond Her visible boundaries.”

The fullness of life and peace promoted by God

In this regard, the Pope said, Lumen gentium makes an important statement, namely, “the Church is the ‘universal sacrament of salvation,’ that is, the sign and instrument of that fullness of life and peace promoted by God.”

This means, Pope Leo explained, that She “does not identify perfectly with the Kingdom of God, but is its seed and beginning,” for its fulfilment will be granted to humanity and the cosmos only at the end.

“Believers in Christ, therefore,” the Pope encouraged, “walk through this earthly history, marked by the maturation of good but also by injustices and sufferings, without being either deluded or despairing; they live guided by the promise received from the One who will ‘make all things new.’”

In this context, the Pope emphasized that the Church realizes her mission between the “already” of the beginning of the Kingdom of God in Jesus, and the “not yet” of the promised and anticipated fulfilment.

‘All Christians form a single Church’

Pope Leo also urged the faithful to understand the relationship between the Christians who are carrying out their mission today, and those who have already completed their earthly existence and are in a state of purification or beatitude.

“Lumen gentium, in fact,” the Holy Father reiterated, “affirms that all Christians form a single Church, that there is communion and sharing of spiritual goods founded on the union with Christ of all believers, a fraterna sollicitudo between the earthly Church and the heavenly Church: that communion of saints that is experienced in particular in the liturgy.”

“By praying for the departed and following in the footsteps of those who have already lived as disciples of Jesus, we too,” the Pope reminded, “are sustained on our journey and strengthen our worship of God: marked by the one Spirit and united in the one liturgy, together with those who have gone before us in faith, we praise and give glory to the Most Holy Trinity.”

Pope Leo concluded by saying “Let us be grateful to the Council Fathers for reminding us of this most important and beautiful aspect of being Christian, and may we strive to cultivate it in our lives.” – Vatican News

Vatican News

Before he returned to Rome from Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV spoke briefly to reporters and responded to the latest critical remarks made about him by US President Donald Trump.

“The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” he said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

Speaking outside Villa Barberini, his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo recalled that the Church has consistently spoken against nuclear weapons.

“For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point,” the Pope said, responding to President Trump’s claim that the Pope considers it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, thereby placing all Catholics at risk.

“I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of the word of God,” Pope Leo XIV stressed, reiterating that he has spoken clearly “from the first moment I was elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said: ‘Peace be with you’.”

Regarding his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, scheduled for Thursday, May 7, the Pope expressed his hope that it would be “a good dialogue,” approached “with trust and openness,” so as “to understand one another well.”

“I think the issues he is coming for are not today’s issues. We shall see,” Pope Leo added, again referring to the comments made by the US President. – Vatican News

By Stefanie Stahlhofen

“This is a celebration of the people,” Pope Leo XIV declared at the beginning of his homily during the Mass at the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, during which he ordained four priests as auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Rome: Stefano Sparapani, Alessandro Zenobbi, Andrea Carlevale, and Marco Valenti. With the exception of Marco Valenti, who comes from Cantalupo in Sabina, all were born in Rome.

In his homily, the Pope addressed the new auxiliary bishops as “dear brothers” and emphasized that, together with the Cardinal Vicar, they would help him, the Bishop of Rome, “to be for the Roman people an image of the Good Shepherd and to watch over the charity of the whole holy People of God spread throughout the world.”

Pope Leo also explained how he envisions their ministry: “You will be prophets in your ministry if you are men of peace and unity, who weave together—with threads of grace and mercy—the vast and populous spaces of this diocese, harmonizing differences, welcoming, listening, forgiving.”

Vatican News

The Italian edition of the book Free Under Grace (Vatican Publishing House) has been given to Pope Leo XIV. The volume is a collection of texts dating back to when the Pope, as Robert Prevost, held the office of Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (2001–2013).

The first copy of the Italian edition, which will be in bookstores from Monday, May 4, was presented to the Pope by Father Joseph Farrell, the current Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, who promoted the publication of the volume. He was joined by Augustinian Father Rocco Ronzani, Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive and one of the editors of the book, and Lorenzo Fazzini, editorial director of the Vatican Publishing House. In addition to Father Ronzani, the book was also edited by Father Miguel Ángel Martín Juárez and Father Michael Di Gregorio, both Augustinians.

The book will be released in several languages in the coming months and is currently being translated in 30 countries around the world. As already announced by the Vatican Publishing House at the Frankfurt International Book Fair in October 2025, this book – bringing together for the first time speeches, homilies, letters, and messages by Robert Francis Prevost – offers a closer look at the spirituality of Pope Leo XIV.

Free under Grace will be presented on Wednesday, May 6, in Rome (5:00 PM, Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum) by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State; Father Joseph Farrell, Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine; Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication; Maria Grazia Calandrone, writer; and Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of Vatican Media. – Vatican News

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV met with stewards, trustees, and members of The Papal Foundation on Saturday, as the US-based charitable organization makes a pilgrimage to Rome.

He recalled that his former Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, received financial support from the foundation, and thanked them for their mission to assist the Successor of Peter’s ministry to the universal Church.

“I was pleased to learn that membership in the Foundation continues to grow each year and that you have expressed an openness to increase the support provided as well as find new ways of being of service,” he said.

Though Christ commissioned the Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, to guide the Church, he said, every Catholic has been entrusted with the mission to proclaim the Gospel in word and charitable deed.

“As St James wrote to the early Christian community, faith without works is dead and has no power to save,” he said, “and the Gospels teach us that the Lord expects His disciples to care for the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.”

Pope Leo noted that The Papal Foundation provides humanitarian aid and scholarships for people from around the world, participating in the Church’s evangelical mission.

These include priests and consecrated religious who are able to receive an advanced education so that they may become future leaders in the Church.

“Your generosity,” he said, “has allowed countless people to experience in a concrete fashion the goodness and kindness of God in their own communities.”

The Pope thanked members of The Papal Foundation for their generosity on behalf of all those who have benefited from their kindness.

Recalling that their encounter takes place during the Easter Season, he pointed to the Lord’s greeting “Peace be with you!” and renewed Christ’s invitation for His disciples to be instruments of peace.

Pope St Paul VI, he noted, called development “the new name of peace,” adding that his predecessor meant that “true harmony is not simply the absence of conflict, but comes from actively promoting an authentic integral human development.”

“Fostering genuine progress through tangible initiatives like those supported by the Foundation is a sure way to encourage concord among communities and individuals,” he said.

Finally, Pope Leo XIV renewed his gratitude to The Papal Foundation for their pilgrimage to Rome and for their support for his ministry and the work of the universal Church.

“I ask for your continued prayers for my ministry as the Successor of Saint Peter and for the needs of the Church.” – Vatican News

Vatican News

The Vatican has published a document focused on living the care for creation and for human life within the family, entitled “Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family.”

Released on Monday, the text is intended to be a response to Pope Francis’ and Pope Leo XIV’s appeals to listen to the cry of the poor and of the Earth and offer a concrete response, according to a press release presenting the initiative.

The document draws from the principles of the post-synodal Exhortation Amoris Laetitia and the teachings of the Encyclical Laudato si’.

The text is the result of the joint efforts of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, and was developed with the direct involvement of theologians, consultants, and married couples.

Families are the soil from which society grows

“Family values are the fruitful soil from which all of society grows. In order to care properly for our common home and for all people, families must be the model,” wrote the Prefects of the two Dicasteries, Cardinal Michael Czerny and Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

“Many families are attentive in caring for our common home and caring for others, their minds set on the hope that is Jesus Christ. The values of the family are consistent and fundamental to the care of our common home and of our neighbors,” they continued.

“What are the values of the family? Members of the family learn selflessness, patience and dedication, openness and protection of life, so that they can flourish, complementarity and reciprocity, intergenerational connections and solidarity with other families, and the transmission of knowledge and traditions.”

Guidelines and suggestions

The document offers guidelines to families, Church groups, and individuals to help them address the current environmental challenges and to promote the integral development of every person.

The first part of the text presents fundamental concepts based on Pope Francis’ most significant writings, while the second part—the heart of the volume—contains thematic chapters that reflect seven objectives from Laudato si’.

These include: listening to the cry of the earth, listening to the cry of the poor and the vulnerable, adopting and promoting ecological economics, adopting ecological lifestyles, integral ecology and education, ecological spirituality in the family, and families participating in community life.

Each chapter is divided into four sections: an explanation of the topic, implications of the topic, questions for reflection and discussion, and a list of proposed actions.

The press release notes that although the document is dedicated to families, it can be useful to all, as care for creation and the promotion of human dignity are topics that affect everyone.

Families, it says, as the constitutive element of society, can become the motor of this profound cultural change.

“Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family” is available for free in 5 languages on the official websites of both Dicasteries. – Vatican News

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

“I thank the Lord for granting me the opportunity” to undertake an Apostolic Journey across four African countries and “to experience it as a message of peace at a time in history marked by wars and serious and frequent violations of international law,” Pope Leo XIV said during the Wednesday General Audience in St Peter’s Square on Apr 29.

Pope Leo visited Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea from Apr 13 – 23, where he followed in the footsteps of St Augustine, appealed for peace in tension-filled areas, was welcomed by people singing, dancing, and cheering, and more.

“I cannot forget what happened in the prison in Bata, in Equatorial Guinea,” the Pope said in his catechesis, regarding one of the moments of his journey.

The Pope underlined how he undertook this visit as a “Shepherd, to meet and encourage the people of God.”

For the people of Africa, the Pope said his visit was “a chance to make their voices heard, to express the joy of being God’s people and the hope for a better future, of dignity for each and every one.”

“I am happy to have given them this opportunity, and at the same time I thank the Lord for what they have given me, an inestimable treasure for my heart and my ministry,” he said, expressing his gratitude to the civil authorities and religious and Church representatives who welcomed him.

Algeria: Crossing and strengthening bridges

Pope Leo XIV’s first stop was in Algeria, where he followed in the footsteps of his spiritual father, St Augustine, and also met with the minority Catholic community and representatives of other religions.

“I found myself, on the one hand, revisiting the roots of my spiritual identity and, on the other, crossing and strengthening bridges that are very important for the world and the Church today: the bridge with the very fruitful age of the Church Fathers; the bridge with the Islamic world; and the bridge with the African continent,” the Pope explained.

He pointed out that his time in the country showed “the world that it is possible to live together as brothers and sisters, even of different religions, when we recognize ourselves as children of the same merciful Father.”

He also underscored that St Augustine today is an important role model for Christians and not only, as “he is a master in the search for God and for truth.”

Populations thirsting for justice 

The Pope then travelled to the predominantly Christian countries of Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, where he said he was warmly welcomed in a festive atmosphere.

He also emphasized how in these nations he saw the populations “thirsting and hungry for justice” and so came to them to recognize their faith and proclaim how “blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek, blessed are the peacemakers.”

Cameroon: Keep alive the spirit of unity to guide future choices

In Cameroon the Pope was able to “reinforce the call to work together for reconciliation and peace.” He especially highlighted his visit to Bamenda – an area in the Anglophone region marked by hostilities due to separatist groups – where he encouraged people to work for peace.

The Pope also explained that “Cameroon is known as ‘Africa in miniature,’ in reference to the variety and richness of its natural environment, its resources.”

However, he continued, “we can also interpret this expression to mean that the great needs of the entire continent are found in Cameroon: the need for a fair distribution of wealth; the need to provide space for the young, overcoming endemic issues; that of promoting integral and sustainable development, countering the various forms of neo-colonialism with far-sighted international cooperation.”

He underlined that he hopes “that the spirit of unity which was evident during” his visit “may be kept alive and guide future choices and actions.”

Angola: A hope that withstands the empty promises of the powerful

In Angola, the Pope noted that despite a bloody civil war after achieving independence in 1975, “in the crucible of this history, God has guided and purified the Church, increasingly converting her in the service of the Gospel, human promotion, reconciliation, and peace.”

“A free Church for a free people!” he emphasized.

He also recalled that he “felt the beating heart of the Angolan people” at the Mamã Muxima Marian Shrine and was struck by seeing so many people of all ages participating and rejoicing at the various events.

He saw in them “the foundation of a hope that withstands the disappointments caused by ideologies and the empty promises of the powerful.”

He highlighted though that “this hope demands concrete commitment” and said the Church has the responsibility to recognize and promote the rights of all.

The Pope also assured the Catholic Church’s willingness to continue to help in this respect, especially “in the field of healthcare and education.”

Equatorial Guinea: Genuine signs of the Kingdom of God in a prison

The Pope then turned to the fourth leg of his Apostolic Journey and recounted the particularly strong moment when he visited a prison in the northwestern city of Bata.

“The prisoners sang at the top of their voices a song of thanksgiving to God and to the Pope, asking him to pray ‘for their sins and their freedom’. I had never seen anything like it,” he said.

“And then they prayed the ‘Our Father’ with me in the pouring rain. A genuine sign of the Kingdom of God!”

Then, the same day and still in the rain, the Pope met with young people in the city’s stadium in “a celebration of Christian joy, with moving testimonies from young people who have found in the Gospel the path to free and responsible growth.”

“This celebration culminated in the Eucharistic celebration the following day, which worthily crowned the visit to Equatorial Guinea, as well as the entire Apostolic Journey,” the Pope concluded. – Vatican News

By Benedetta Capelli

On Monday, Apr 27, Pope Leo visited the Pontifical Academy in Rome, emphasising “the special vocation at the service of peace, truth and justice” to which the pontifical diplomatic priest is called. The meeting coincided with the 325th anniversary of the institution’s foundation, which the Pope had already visited before being elected to the Chair of Peter, when he was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Unity in Christ

Pope Leo expressed “profound gratitude” for the “history of dedication and service” celebrated by this joyful anniversary. It is an important history, made possible by priests from across the world who have contributed “with their humble efforts to building that unity in Christ which, amid the diversity of origins, makes communion a defining characteristic of the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See.”

An exercise in conversion

Pope Leo reflected on the reforms that have given the institution “the autonomy needed to renew the structure of studies in law, history, political science and economics, alongside the study of languages used in international relations.” Yet there is an even more important reform, he emphasised that it is that of a constant exercise of conversion, aimed at cultivating “closeness, attentive listening, witness, a fraternal approach and dialogue combined with humility and gentleness”, all virtues that must permeate your entire priestly ministry.

Bridges that shape history

Recalling saints, blesseds and Popes who have shaped the Academy’s history, the Pope highlighted the distinctive role of the pontifical diplomatic priest: “a messenger of the Easter proclamation: ‘Peace be with you!’”. Even when hopes for dialogue and reconciliation seem to fade, he continues, it remains essential to bring to all the words of the Risen Christ: “I leave you peace, I give you my peace.”

“Your mission calls you to be “bridges” and “channels”, so that the grace that comes from heaven may find its way into the folds of history”, he said.

A sign of Christ’s love

Another task of the pontifical diplomat is to bring the Truth – who is Christ – into the assembly of nations, “becoming a sign of His love for that portion of humanity entrusted to his care — first as a pastor, and only then as a diplomat.” Pope Leo reiterated, as he did in his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See at the beginning of the year, that words carry weight and must once again “express realities clearly and unambiguously,” so as to foster “authentic dialogue without misunderstanding”, bearing witness to what has become flesh.

Promoters of justice

The then Pope broadened his perspective to embrace the whole human family, since the diplomat’s ministry is not limited to the Catholic community.

“This calls you to be promoters of every form of justice that helps to recognise, restore and protect the image of God imprinted in every person”, he said.

Guardians of human dignity

“In a world marked by tension,” the Pope continues, “which seems to make conflict the only way of addressing needs and demands, our efforts to commit ourselves to dialogue, listening and reconciliation may appear insufficient, at times even futile.”

A visit of encouragement

In his greeting, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, underlined that the Pope’s visit is “a source of encouragement along the path of preparation for service in the diplomacy of the Holy See.” He also extended his best wishes to Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the 46th anniversary of his priestly ordination, which took place on Apr 27 1980. – Vatican News

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV held an audience on Monday with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, and prayed with her in the Urban VIII Chapel in the Apostolic Palace.

In his greetings, the Pope shared his joy to receive the Archbishop during the Easter season, recalling the historic encounter between Pope St Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey, which took place 60 years ago.

He also expressed appreciation for the ministry of the Anglican Centre in Rome, greeting its Director, Bishop Anthony Ball, who represents the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Holy See.

Pope Leo then shared his Eastertide greeting of Christ’s peace, which he said offers an invitation to all Christians.

“I have often mentioned that the peace of the risen Lord is ‘unarmed’,” he said. “This is because He always responded to violence and aggression in an unarmed way, inviting us to do likewise.”

Among Christians, he added, divisions weaken our ability to effectively bear Christ’s peace to the world.

“If the world is to take our preaching to heart,” he said, “we must, therefore, be constant in our prayers and efforts to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder the proclamation of the Gospel.”

Pope Leo recalled the many decades of efforts of theological dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans that have been made along the path to restore “complete communion in faith and sacramental life.”

Despite its complexity, he said, this ecumenical journey has borne fruit regarding various historically divisive issues, noting that the Anglican Communion is currently facing “many of these same questions at this time.”

“Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together,” he said.

Recalling the words of Pope Francis to Primate of the Anglican Communion in May 2024, the Pope said it “would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfill our common vocation to make Christ known.”

“For my part,” said Pope Leo, “I add that it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.”

Concluding his address, the Pope thanked Archbishop Mullally for her visit and prayed that Anglicans and Catholics continue to journey together in friendship and dialogue, guided by the Holy Spirit. – Vatican News

By Eugenio Murrali and Paolo Ondarza

The Holy See’s Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale is centered on the concept of listening and is inspired by the work and figure of the German Saint and Doctor of the Church, Hildegard of Bingen.

The exhibit is a part of the Biennale’s 61st International Art Exhibition, which will take place from May 9 to Nov 22, 2026. The concept behind the Pavilion, articulated in two separate spaces, was presented on Monday, Apr 27, during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office.

Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça—in charge of the Pavilion and Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education—described it as “an observatory of the world.”

He explained that Pope Leo XIV’s words during the Rosary for peace on Apr 11 are at the heart of the Pavilion’s concept: “We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather, we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds.”

The Holy See’s participation in the Venice Biennale, Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça added, is “an opportunity to immerse oneself in contemplation and listening. From interiority—an essential dimension—we hope fruits of peace, encounter, and future can emerge.”

In a world marked by conflict and tension, art has much to offer: “We need artists to speak. We must listen to them as we listen to prophets. Art offers us new visions of the world,” he emphasized.

An invitation to slowness and contemplation through St Hildegard

Slowing down, listening, contemplating, and caring are key themes of the Pavilion, titled “The ear is the eye of the soul”, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers.

According to Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça, “our time needs new masters,” and Saint Hildegard’s “polyphonic profile” can serve as an antidote to the excess of monotony.

He explained that she can inspire new visions and introduce us to a “lingua ignota” (an unknown language), as in “a creative force that encourages more inclusive social paradigms and fosters communal and fraternal practices.”

The project draws on the chants, writings, and visionary images of the Benedictine abbess, who was canonized in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. “She may seem distant as a 12th-century mystic, but her voice is strikingly contemporary, capable of illuminating present-day questions,” the Cardinal pointed out.

A long-term project

The Pavilion creates a harmonious relationship between works by 24 artists and the spaces in which they are held: the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites in the Cannaregio area of Venice and the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice complex in the Castello neighbourhood of the city.

Obrist explained that this latter complex had already been a part of the Holy See’s Pavilion for the Biennale’s Architecture Exhibition last year, and said the spatial continuity allows the project to grow sustainably without dismantling previous work.

A holistic experience

For Obrist, the project has developed over time and was shaped by memories and instances in which he came into contact with the cultural heritage left by Saint Hildegard.

“For Saint Hildegard, sound was a form of knowledge. Music becomes a link between the self and the world, between the microcosm and the macrocosm,” he said, emphasizing the holistic experience awaiting visitors.

Obrist hopes that the Holy See Pavilion will help people rediscover the importance of listening.

Saint Hildegard as a bridge between heaven and Earth

The other curator, Ben Vickers, described Saint Hildegard as a role model, as she knew how to connect heaven and earth through song, while highlighting the primacy of listening.

The Soundwalk Collective, an international experimental sound art collective, played a central role in the creation of the first section of the Pavilion in the Mystical Garden. There, new sound works by musicians, poets, and contemporary artists engage with Saint Hildegard’s legacy through voice, instruments, and silence.

Visitors will be able to walk through the Mystical Garden, a space dedicated to contemplation and not usually accessible to the public, and that was inspired by Saint Teresa of Avila’s book “The Interior Castle.”

Thanks to the use of headphones, visitors will also be able to listen as they walk to compositions by artists such as Patti Smith, Brian Eno, Jim Jarmusch, and Meredith Monk, alongside Benedictine nuns from the Abbey of St Hildegard in Germany and more.

Visitors will immerse themselves in the sounds of the place, using a tool also created by the Soundwalk Collective to hear the voice of nature in real time, but also that of “one’s interior space,” said Simone Merli, who works for the Collective.

“An immersive experience, the Mystical Garden is a somewhat hidden gem, but one that is very dear to the hearts of Venetians,” Merli explained. “The Carmelites have given us this wonderful opportunity to be part of their daily lives.”

Saint Hildegard and Saint Teresa: guides for the soul

Father Ermanno Barucco, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, described the Mystical Garden in Venice as a place of silence, beauty, zeal for God and contemplation.

“I imagine Saint Hildegard and Saint Teresa, with their different characteristics, accompanying people into the mystical garden within their souls, where God dwells,” he said.

“These two saints teach us to care for others. Silence compels us to listen within ourselves, to listen to our own conscience, and to ask ourselves if we are building a good, beautiful world for everyone.”

Listening as a path to understanding divine charity

The Santa Maria Ausiliatrice complex, on the other hand, will become a contemporary scriptorium, meaning the place where books and manuscripts were once copied and illuminated.

It will be divided into three parts: a living archive, a space with German author and film director Alexander Kluge’s final work, and the liturgical chant of the nuns of the Abbey of Saint Hildegard.

In the archive, curated in collaboration with Sister Maura Zátonyi and the Academy of Saint Hildegard, visitors will find a library of Hildegardian texts, Portuguese artist Ilda David’s artist books, and a new monastic architectural project by the architecture firm, Tatiana Bilbao Estudio.

Creation, as an act of love

As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in the apostolic letter accompanying the proclamation of Saint Hildegard as a Doctor of the Church, “creation is an act of love by which the world can emerge from nothingness. Hence, through the whole range of creatures, divine love flows as a river. Of all creatures, God loves man in a special way and confers upon him an extraordinary dignity, giving him that glory which the rebellious angels lost.” – Vatican News