Pope Leo XIV Marks 71st Birthday with Water-Themed Art Exhibition at Vatican Library
On his 71st birthday, Pope Leo XIV unveiled "AQVA: Catastrophe and Wonder," a modern art exhibition at the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome. This exhibition, running from September 25 to May 14, marks the beginning of a five-year initiative focused on historical dangers to written language. It showcases works from three contemporary artists alongside ancient texts that explore the duality of water. A highlight is "Dilivium," a 230-foot sculpture by JR representing a biblical flood. The exhibition also features two 470-year-old editions of "Aquatilium Animalium Historiae," Bill Moran's "LetterFish" prints, and culinary stories by chef Fulvio Pierangelini. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV revealed plans for a library expansion.
Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV announced the exhibition on his 71st birthday.
- The exhibition is titled "AQVA: Catastrophe and Wonder" and is held at the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome.
- It opens to the public from September 25 through May 14.
- The show is the first chapter of a five-year series called "Catastrophe and Wonder."
- JR's 230-foot-long sculpture "Dilivium" is installed on the library's facade.
- The sculpture references an 1866 wood engraving by Gustave Doré.
- Two 470-year-old copies of Ippolito Salviani's "Aquatilium Animalium Historiae" (1554) are on display.
- Bill Moran exhibits fourteen original "LetterFish" prints made from typographic elements.
- Fulvio Pierangelini contributes six gastronomic narratives accompanying historical cookbooks.
- Pope Leo XIV also announced a library expansion project to house growing manuscripts.
Entities
Artists
- Pope Leo XIV
- JR
- Gustave Doré
- Bill Moran
- Fulvio Pierangelini
- Ippolito Salviani
- Don Giacomo Cardinali
- Katie White
- Kat Barandy
- Christian Thorsberg
- Rev. Giacomo Cardinali
Institutions
- Vatican Apostolic Library
- Vatican
- Artsy
- Designboom
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Circle of Blue
- Sierra magazine
- Discover magazine
- Alaska Sporting Journal
- Fondazione Roma
- Intesa Sanpaolo
- Tipoteca
- PRINT Magazine
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Vatican City
- Europe
- China
- South America
- Russia
- Japan
- Chicago
- Minnesota