The Way of Beauty – A Constant Source of Christian Inspiration

On Tuesday, 9 November 2004, in the synod room at the Vatican, the theme of 9th Public Meeting of the Pontifical Academies was entitled: Via Pulchritudinis – the Way of Beauty. The following is a short summary of John Paul II’s message, read at the assembly: 

The theme of this session: the Via Pulchritudinis – the Way of Beauty, constitutes, according to John Paul II, "the best way for the Christian faith and the culture of our time to meet, besides being a valuable instrument for the formation of the younger generations." The pope pointed out that the Church "has travelled the path of beauty in many ways" in 2,000 years of history, and that it had developed, inspired, and accompanied art and artists in the fields of architecture, sculpture, painting, miniatures, musical compositions, literature and plays. 

"Would today’s people be able to enjoy this vast artistic patrimony if the Christian community had not encouraged and supported the creativity of numerous artists... ?"

Pope John Paul II continued: "... offering them as a model and font of inspiration the beauty of Christ, Splendor of the Father?” This is why the pope invited the artists of today to support "a new Christian humanism" that is "the path of dialogue and peace between all peoples."

Two awards were given at the end of the address: the annual Prize of the Pontifical Academies was assigned to the Benedictine Abbey of Keur Moussa, Senegal, and the Medal of Pontificate to the School of Cinematography "Ipotesi Cinema", for its pedagogy founded on an authentic humanism and to the Inter-university Choir of Rome, for the service rendered to divine rite and musical culture.