Dentro la Notizia - Voce Racconta · La Voce del Popolo

A Verolavecchia una mostra che racconta l'amicizia fra San Paolo VI e gli artisti: intervista a Roberto Consolandi - 2 aprile 2026

·17 min·1 clip

An exhibition in Verolavecchia reveals Pope Paul VI's deep, lifelong friendships with artists, starting from before he became a priest.

The episode is an interview format with Roberto Consolandi, the curator and art historian behind the exhibition 'A Verolavecchia una mostra che racconta l'amicizia fra San Paolo VI e gli artisti'. It begins by explaining the exhibition's origin, focusing on Pope Paul VI's early interest in art, influenced by philosopher Jean Maritain, and his time in Verolavecchia from 1914 to 1917, where his vocation developed. The discussion highlights a significant donation in 1964 from heirs of artists close to Paul VI, including Enrico Manfrini's sons and others, which forms the core of the collection. It traces Paul VI's relationships with artists like Mario Rudelli and Ernesto Mellani, starting from his time as Archbishop of Milan in 1955 at Villa Clerici. After becoming Pope in 1963, he summoned these artists to the Vatican, led by Dandolo Bellini and Monsignor Pasquale Macchi, to create his private chapel, later contributing to the Vatican's Contemporary Art Gallery. The exhibition features artifacts such as bronzes, medals, writings, and unpublished photographs, including one by Pepe Merisio from 1964 in Jerusalem. Thematic sections are described, starting with 'Le porte regali' by Florensky, exploring the image of Mary (Theotokos), and a section dedicated to the 800th anniversary of St. Francis's death, featuring basso-rilievi by Enrico Manfrini. Other sections include medals by Crevitei focused on Christ and a centenary section on Paul VI's birth with works by Floriano Modini, referencing the Gusen concentration camp. The episode concludes with advice for visitors to approach the art with 'ascoltività' (a listening attitude), linking it to Pope Francis's encyclical on nature, and provides practical details: the exhibition runs until June 14, 2026, with opening hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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