杏MAP导航

By Salvatore Cernuzio

鈥淭o support and design pathways of art and faith鈥� to invest in cultural and spiritual formation through events, experiences, pathways and spiritual exercises鈥� to promote dialogue with cultures and other religions on the themes of the Pontiff's latest encyclicals, in order to build a 鈥榮ocial alliance.鈥欌��: These are the aims of the new Fratelli tutti  Foundation, established by 杏MAP导航 Francis with a (a papal decree) signed on 8 December 2021.

Chaired by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti

The new foundation 鈥渙f religion and worship鈥� 鈥� as the 杏MAP导航 underlines 鈥� was conceived within the Fabbrica di San Pietro, whose mission it is intended to support, with the collaboration of members of the lay faithful.

The Foundation will include a single head and a general secretary, with a Board of Directors initially chaired by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar of Vatican City and President of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, from whom the proposal originated. The cardinal had previously announced the impending creation of the Foundation, centred on three key words 鈥渢o build the future together鈥�: dialogue, encounter, and sharing 鈥� that is, the very principles set out in the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 encyclical , published on 3 October 2020.

Detail from the interior of St Peter's Basilica

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 satisfaction

鈥淚 have learned with satisfaction that the Fabbrica di San Pietro, together with some of the faithful, wish to join together to establish a Foundation of Religion and Worship intended to collaborate in spreading the principles set forth in my recent encyclical, Fratelli tutti, in order to encourage around St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica and in the embrace of its colonnade, initiatives linked to spirituality, art, education, and dialogue with the world,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 writes in his chirograph. The 杏MAP导航 explains that the institution will be governed by canonical laws, 鈥渋n particular by the special norms that regulate the Bodies of the Holy See, by the civil norms in force in the Vatican City State, and by the attached Statute which I simultaneously approve.鈥�

Art, training, and spirituality initiatives

Within the Statutes approved by 杏MAP导航 Francis, Article 3 sets out the aims of the new institution: 鈥淭he Foundation aims at solidarity, formation, and dissemination of art, in particular sacred art; it promotes synodality, the culture of fraternity and dialogue.鈥� A from the Holy See Press Office explains that, to this end, the Fratelli Tutti Foundation 鈥減romotes holistic formation, attentive to the spiritual and cultural levels, to the community dimension and to the commitment to service in the world.鈥�

It will also promote 鈥渢he experience of pilgrims through spiritual, cultural and artistic itineraries in Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica and in the spaces made available for the Fabric of Saint Peter,鈥� and organize 鈥渋tineraries, events and experiences to foster fraternity and social friendship between Churches, different religions and between believers and non-believers.鈥�

Culture of peace and fraternal humanism

Among the aims of the 鈥淔ratelli tutti鈥� Foundation is the promotion of the 鈥渃ulture of peace in the various spheres of life, from the personal to the social and political dimensions,鈥� as well as the organisation of 鈥溾�榥ew encounters鈥� nourished by social dialogue, by a sense of social forgiveness, by the purification of memory, by the promotion of restorative justice as an alternative to social revenge.鈥� Numerous initiatives are also planned, aimed at encouraging 鈥渢he development of fraternal humanism, through the promotion of the principles of freedom, equality and fraternity, conditions for building a 鈥榰niversal love鈥� that recognises and safeguards the dignity of persons.鈥� In the same vein, 鈥減rojects for the care of creation, the protection of environmental resources and international solidarity and social responsibility鈥� will likewise be encouraged.

Building bridges

Finally, in the light of the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church, the Foundation will promote 鈥渟ocial alliance, responsible entrepreneurship, social investment, humane and sustainable forms of work; integral ecology, sustainable development, ecological transition, health and scientific and technological research.鈥�

And by virtue of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 mandate 鈥渢o build bridges鈥� 鈥� crystallised in the Fratelli tutti 鈥攖he Foundation also intends to support 鈥渞esponsible communication,鈥� characterised by truthfulness of sources, credibility and reliability.

The Vatican communiqué also stresses that 鈥渋n the symbolic embrace of the colonnade of Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica,鈥� the Foundation is intended to care for 鈥渢he weakest people, the outsider and the foreigner, the different and the marginalised, and the cultural and social frontiers in order to re-read the suffering of the world and offer solutions in the light of the Gospel and the papal Magisterium.鈥�

The Foundation鈥檚 governing bodies are the General Council, made up of members of the Vatican Dicasteries concerned with the Foundation鈥檚 mission; and the Sustainability Committee, in which the Foundation鈥檚 benefactors are represented.

The dome of St Peter's