杏MAP导航: Design of sacred architecture must flow from Church鈥檚 liturgy
By Devin Watkins
As the Pontifical Academies held their 26th Public Session on Tuesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the importance of sacred architecture, which formed the theme for this edition of the Public Session.
He recalled his 2022 Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi, which was dedicated to the liturgical formation of the people of God.
Rediscovering symbolic language
Sacred architecture, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, must seek to rediscover 鈥渟ymbolic language and be able to interpret it.鈥�
鈥淭o have lost the capacity to grasp the symbolic value of the body and of every creature renders the symbolic language of the Liturgy almost inaccessible to the modern mentality,鈥� he said, citing his Apostolic Letter. 鈥淎nd yet there can be no question of renouncing such language. It cannot be renounced because it is how the Holy Trinity chose to reach us through the flesh of the Word. It is rather a question of recovering the capacity to use and understand the symbols of the Liturgy.鈥�
Inspiration from liturgical life of Church
Artistic and architectural creativity, added the 杏MAP导航, must also draw inspiration from the liturgical life of the Church and the action of the Holy Spirit, rather than merely from human preferences.
He said the liturgy and the art that surrounds the liturgical space must be free from 鈥渟ubjectivisms鈥� and the 鈥渋nvasion of cultural elements鈥�.
Winners of Pontifical Academies Award
The 杏MAP导航 went on to congratulate the winners of the Pontifical Academies Award for their contributions to sacred architecture.
The gold medal was awarded to 鈥淥PPS Architettura鈥� studio in Florence for its work to renovate a chapel in Rome belonging to the Foundation of Sts. Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena.
The silver medal went to the architect Federica Frino for her project for a new church dedicated to St. Thomas in the central Italian city of Pontedera.
The Pontifical Academies Awards were assigned based on the criteria of 鈥渄esign, outfitting, liturgical adaptation, renovation, and reuse of spaces dedicated to worship, taking into account new requirements and contemporary architectural language.鈥�
Fruitful research
In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked the Pontifical Academies for their 鈥渇ruitful efforts in their areas of research and service鈥�.
And he entrusted their members to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, the 鈥淭emple and Ark of the New Covenant.鈥�
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