Press Communiqué
The Holy See to participate in the EXPO in Osaka in 2025
From 13 April 2025 to 13 October 2025, the 2025 Universal Exposition will take place in Osaka, Japan (EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan).
The theme chosen for this edition is “Designing Future Society for our Lives”, with three distinct sub-themes: “Saving Lives”, “Empowering Lives”, and “Connecting Lives”.
The Holy See, in collaboration with the Italy Pavilion, will be present at the event with a recognizable space for organizing cultural events and important art exhibitions.
His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-profect of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, mandated by the Holy Father to prepare and take care of the official participation of the Holy See in the next Universal Exposition (EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan) as Commissioner General, has appointed as Vice Commissioners for the event the Reverend Msgr. Pietro Bongiovanni, parish priest of San Salvatore in Lauro and the Reverend Fr. Nuno Alexandre Henriques De Lima, parish priest of Tamatsukuri Catholic Church, Saint Mary's Cathedral in Osaka. His Excellency the Commissioner General trusts in their support to assist and represent the Holy See in the preparation and for the duration of the entire event.
The theme of the Holy See Pavilion will be: “Beauty brings Hope”. Through an exploration of art and aesthetics, the Pavilion proposes to transmit the profound concept that beauty, in its many facets, can be a source of inspiration and hope for building a more harmonious and participatory future society. Beauty has always played a fundamental role in Christian evangelization, embodied in artistic expression since the beginnings of Christianity. Throughout the centuries, art has become the privileged way through which the Church has been able to represent the depth of faith. The “Via Pulchritudinis” has constituted the most effective vehicle for communicating the heart of faith in a tangible way through beauty itself.
Through exhibitions, artistic installations and unique perspectives, the Holy See Pavilion will offer a reflection on how beauty can function as a catalyst for Hope, uniting people on their journey towards a shared future of renewal in spirituality.
Furthermore, the theme intersects with that of the 2025 Jubilee, entitled “Pilgrims of hope”, fulfilling the role of a bridge to connect and unite the two events.
“Humanity today has numerous hopes thanks to the advancement of progress in science and technology”, emphasized the pro-prefect Archbishop Rino Fisichella. “But, as already expressed for the theme of the Jubilee, also that of EXPO is intended to communicate the importance of Hope, in the singular, that comes only from God. Humanity still needs to hope”.
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