Vatican newspaper pays tribute to architect Portoghesi

November 08, 2011

L’Osservatore Romano has paid tribute to architect and scholar Paolo Portoghesi on his eightieth birthday.

“Like many authentic artists, Portoghesi has never ceased fighting for his ideas, which often create waves among the so-called experts of international architecture,” writes Sandro Barbagallo. “He is responsible for the development of ‘geo-architecture,’ a new school of thought which highlights the value of difference, convincing the ‘archistar’ to respect and defend the genius loci of the places in which he is called to work … A profound religious sense emanates from both his work and his writings.”

Portoghesi, for his part, paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI. “I have read many of his books, written when he was cardinal and Pope, and I always found a strength of certainty in his words,” said Portoghesi. “He is usually accused of being a conservative Pope, but I think, on the contrary, he is an innovator, because, preserving the energy of the faith from dispersion, he will allow Christianity to dialogue with modern culture and not passively accept its influence, but correct its course.”

 

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Further information:

• Like a young man who still has much to say and do: The eightieth birthday of Paolo Portoghesi (L’Osservatore Romano)
• Paolo Portoghesi (archmagazine.com)
• Paolo Portoghesi (Wikipedia)