Changes arrives in Saint Peter’s Square

The photographic exhibition will be open to the public from 7 to 27 May 2024

Vatican City, 3 May 2024

A photographic interpretation of the Canticle of the Creatures: on the one hand, the contrasts of the effects of climate change; on the other, the hope given by the emotions generated by the creative work of God. This is the aim of the photographic exhibition Changes, which will be officially inaugurated on 7 May, at 12:30, in Saint Peter's Square, between the columns in front of the Braccio di Costantino.

The exhibition, developed as part of the Emotions to Generate Change project, will be open to the public until 27 May. Curated by Lia and Marianna Beltrani, the exhibition was realized together with the Dicastery for Communication, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Laudato si’ Centre for Higher Formation.

The words of Saint Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures accompany the 24 photographs of Changes, with reference to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum: “Yet, with the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point. In addition to this possibility, it is indubitable that the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.” (LD2)

The photographs, selected and matched with the poem of the Poverello of Assisi, present a contrast between the beauty and wonder of Creation and the destruction of climate change, both for our environment and for people around the world. An invitation, therefore, to reflect on the actions to be taken to praise God with the same strength as Saint Francis in a time of socio-ecological crisis. The name “Changes” refers both to climate change and its impacts, which we are experiencing with increasing intensity, and to the challenge of changing our outlook and our actions, so that we can truly say “Laudato sii, o mi Signore”.

The photographs, mounted on supports produced using wood recovered after Storm Vaia, in the autonomous province of Trento, come from Borneo, Bangladesh, Togo, Ethiopia, Amazonia, Florida, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Australia and Turkey. The photographers whose work is on display are: Neşe Arı, Raffaele Merler, Giampaolo Calzà, Franco Giovanazzi, Vassilis Ikoutas, Asaf Ud Daula, Sebastiano Rossitto, Ferran Paredes Rubio e Francesca Larrain.

CHANGES: the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh8R44TNM8s

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE

Journalists and media operators who wish to attend must apply, no less than 48 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti

Press Contact
for interviews:

Patricio Caruso
T   +39 3472610557
E   patriciocaruso@gmail.com