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Pope Leo XIV to launch exhibit on water at the Vatican Library

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV will launch a contemporary art exhibit focused on water at the Vatican Apostolic Library on Sept. 14.

The exhibit “AQVA Catastrophe and Wonder” will include artwork highlighting a “reflection on water as both a threat and a resource,” according to a July 12 press release from the library.

Notably, the pope will inaugurate the exhibition on his 71st birthday, which is Sept. 14.

“AQVA Catastrophe and Wonder” will include the works of French artist JR, American typographer Bill Moran, and Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini.

According to Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, the Holy See’s librarian and archivist, the exhibit will reflect the pontiff’s desire to bridge the past and the present.

“These exhibitions are intended to foster dialogue between contemporary art and the library’s centuries-old heritage,” Pagazzi said in the press release. “On several occasions, the pope has emphasized fidelity to the past and fidelity to the future. The present — including the present of this exhibition — can become a home where past and future meet as friends.”

The Vatican Apostolic Library is both the national library of Vatican City State and the library of the Holy See.…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Сергій Лисенко

It is interesting that the exhibition is about water - here in Poltava wells and wells have always been worth their weight in gold. But the combination of modern art with an ancient library sounds a little strange, especially with a chef on the list of authors. Will it be something about food and water together?

Adrian Marin

Interesting choice of water theme, especially since here in Iași the wells in the slums still have their old story. But with a mood like Fulvio Pierangelini among the artists, I really wonder if there will be a part about cooking water or just decoration. Anyway, the connection between new art and old library books sounds like a good idea, let's see what comes out on September 14th.

Петро Гончар

It is interesting that you mentioned the Poltava wells - here in Vinnytsia, too, the water from ancient wells was always clean as a tear. But the chef on the list is really surprising, he will probably cook something on the theme of "water in the kitchen". Would you go to such an exhibition?