True beauty leads men to God, Pope tells artists

November 23, 2009

The artist's pursuit of beauty "can become a path toward the transcendent-- toward the ultimate mystery, toward God," Pope Benedict XVI told a group of artists gathered in the Sistine Chapel for a special meeting on November 21.

In his remarks to the international assembly of over 250 artists, drawn from many different countries and disciplines, the Pope cited the words of Simone Weil: "In all that awakens within us the pure and authentic sentiment of beauty, there, truly, is the presence of God." The Pope challenged his audience to serve mankind by opening new paths to the Divine. "You are the custodians of beauty," he said; "thanks to your talent, you have the opportunity to speak to the heart of humanity." The Pope's audience with the artists was arranged to mark the 45th anniversary of a similar meeting at which Pope Paul VI encouraged artists of his day to lead a "renaissance of art in the context of a new humanism," Pope Benedict recalled. He reminded the assembly that "Christianity from its earliest days has recognized the value of the arts and has made wise use of their varied language to express her unvarying message of salvation."

The world's thirst for beauty is especially pronounced today, the Holy Father said, because of "a weakening of hope, by a certain lack of confidence in human relationships, which gives rise to increasing signs of resignation, aggression and despair." He asked rhetorically:

What is capable of restoring enthusiasm and confidence, what can encourage the human spirit to rediscover its path, to raise its eyes to the horizon, to dream of a life worthy of its vocation - if not beauty?

The Pope cautioned that true artistic beauty must be distinguished from the artificial sort, saying that "the beauty that is thrust upon us is illusory and deceitful, superficial and blinding." That counterfeit art ultimately harms the human spirit, "taking on the guise of indecency, transgression or gratuitous provocation," the Pope said. "Authentic beauty, however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know, to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond."

 

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Further information:

• Benedict XVI Meets with Artists (VIS)
• Benedict Woos Artists, Urging ‘Quest for Beauty’ (New York Times)
• Pope tells artists beauty can be a path to God (Reuters)