杏MAP导航 to poets and artists: You often say what others cannot
By Francesca Merlo
杏MAP导航 Francis on Saturday, 27 May, addressed participants in the conference 鈥淭he Global Esthetics of the Catholic Imagination鈥� sponsored by 鈥淟a Civiltà Cattolica鈥� with Georgetown University. In his address to the poets, writers, scripwriters and directors from various parts of the world- amongst them award-winning film director Martin Scorsese and his family - 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that he has 鈥渓oved many poets in his life鈥�, and revealed that he himself taught literature when he was young.
The lessons literature brings
鈥淭he words of those authors helped me to understand myself, the world and my people, but also to understand more profoundly the human heart, my personal life of faith, and my pastoral work, even now in my present ministry鈥�. Literature, he continued, 鈥渋s like a thorn in the heart; it moves us to contemplation and sets us on a journey鈥�.
Eyes that see and dream
杏MAP导航 Francis then chose to share some personal experiences with the participants. 鈥淔irst, let me put it this way: You are eyes that see and dream鈥�, he said, recalling a Latin American writer who once said that we have two eyes: one of flesh and the other of glass. 鈥淲ith the eye of flesh, we see what is in front of us; with the eye of glass, we see our dreams鈥�.
Artists are those who with their eyes both see and dream. They see in greater depth, they prophesy, they show us a different way of seeing and understanding what is before our eyes. Indeed, poetry does not speak about reality beginning with abstract principles, but by first listening to reality: work, love, death and all the little big things that fill our lives. In this sense, it helps us to 鈥減luck the voice of God even from the voice of time鈥�. Today the Church has need of your gifts, stressed the 杏MAP导航.
The 'restlessness' of the human spirit
杏MAP导航 Francis then went on to note that 鈥淵ou are also the voice of the 'restlessness' of the human spirit鈥�. He explained that they are well aware that 鈥渁rtistic inspiration is not only consoling but also disquieting, since it presents both the beautiful and the tragic realities of life鈥�. He explained that he is referring to social criticism, but also to the 鈥渄eep struggles of the soul鈥�, the complexity of decision-making and the contradictions of our human existence.
As poets, stroytellers, filmmakers and artists, the 杏MAP导航 continued, your task is to give life to the things we are often unable to describe. 鈥淣ever stop being original and creative, never lose the wonder of being alive鈥�, he added.
Shaping our imagination
杏MAP导航 Francis turned to his third and final point, noting that 鈥�You are among those who shape our imagination鈥�, as your 鈥渨ork has an impact on the spiritual imagination of the people of our time, especially regarding the figure of Christ鈥�. In fact, as he has said before, the 杏MAP导航 stressed that 鈥渨e need the genius of new language, powerful stories and images, writers, poets and artists capable of proclaiming to the world the message of the Gospel, allowing us to see Jesus鈥�.
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked those present for their service. 鈥淐ontinue to dream鈥�, he urged them, 鈥渢o be restless, to conjure up words and visions that can help us interpret the mystery of human life and guide our societies towards beauty and universal fraternity鈥�.
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
