Florida Catholic | Vatican Splendors Exhibit

Courtesy Photo
A mosaic fragment with the image of Saint Paul the Apostle is on display at the Florida International Museum's Vatican Splendors exhibit in St. Petersburg, which will run through May 11.

Can’t get to the Vatican?

Don’t worry, it’s coming to you with history, art and more.

CARLOS BRICENO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 02.08.08

ST. PETERSBURG | If you’ve always wanted to see the Vatican, but haven’t had the time or the money to fly to Rome, not to worry — the Vatican is coming to you.

“Vatican Splendors from St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard,” one of the largest collections of art, documents and historically significant objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America, can be seen at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg from Saturday, Feb. 9, until Sunday, May 11.

“Spiritually, I think people will take away an appreciation of the Catholic Church’s embracing of everything human,” said Brother Charles Hilken, Brothers of the Christian Schools, a professor of medieval history at St. Mary’s College in California. “I think people will take away from it the antiquity and continuity of the church. There are a lot of liturgical items, vessels and vestments in the exhibit, which speak to the fact that Christians have been celebrating the sacraments of the church there at St. Peter’s under the leadership of their bishop since the foundation of the church.”

The timing of the exhibit coincides with the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard, exhibit officials said. It also coincides with the 40th anniversary of one of the co-sponsors of the exhibit, the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

“It’s an exhibit about art, history, culture and faith and certainly the church’s legacy over the past 2,000 years,” said Mark Greenberg, president of Evergreen Exhibitions, which is producing the exhibit in association with the museum. “There’s something for everyone there. If you’re not Catholic, there’s great art.”

The exhibit, which is organized and circulated in conjunction with the government of the Vatican city-state, has more than 200 objects, most of which have never been outside of Rome, Greenberg said.

St. Petersburg is one of three cities in which the exhibit will appear this year, he said. He added that he couldn’t reveal the names of the other cities yet.

The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections that trace the evolution of the Catholic Church and its papacy, starting with St. Peter through the current pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI. Special emphasis has also been placed on the founding of the current St. Peter’s Basilica, the Papal Swiss Guard and the Vatican Museums. It is presented in somewhat of a multisensory experience, which exhibition designers hope will allow visitors to feel like they are visiting the Vatican. For instance, one section is a recreation of a second-century Vatican necropolis, where the exhibit has a reliquary containing the bones of St. Peter. Ancient oil lamps are also on display near a reproduction of the monument marking St. Peter’s tomb. Visitors can also touch a bronzed cast of Pope John Paul II.

Peter Radetsky, a content developer/writer for the exhibit, said he hopes Catholics who visit the museum will leave with “a wonderful sense of their own tradition and heritage.”

Other highlights from the show include:

• the Mandylion of Edessa, a third- to fifth-century image on linen considered the oldest known representation of Jesus;

• a mosaic bust of an angel by the 14th-century master, Giotto;

• personal items and tools of Michelangelo, and playing cards used by members of his staff during the Sistine Chapel frescoing;

• a terra-cotta sculpture by Bernini;

• the papal tiara of Pope Pius VII, the symbol of the papacy, made of gold, precious stones, pearls, velvet and silk, and topped with an emerald;

• a Buddhist thanka image of embroidered cloth and pearls, given by the Dalai Lama to John Paul II;

• the pastoral staff of Pope John Paul II;

• a special presentation of uniforms, armor and weapons from the Papal Swiss Guard.

Through special arrangements, a previously unpublished painting by renowned 17th-century painter Guercino will also be featured in the exhibition.

“We have objects that used to hang on the walls of apartments of popes, paintings in particular, that have never been displayed that are in the exhibition,” said Radetsky.

One of the ways the current pope is highlighted is by spotlighting his recent election. Actual objects from the ceremonies — including a silver and gilt bronze urn and gilt bronze paten used for voting, a voting ballot, a white smoke cartridge used for announcing the election, and the first papal vestments created for the new pope — are displayed.

“We are proud to be a part of this truly historic event,” said Bishop Robert N. Lynch. “We encourage all residents to see the papal objects and learn the history of church from a cultural viewpoint.”

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