Totus Tuus - Totus 2us

"I turn to you, the artists of the world,

_{to assure you of my esteem & to help consolidate a more constructive partnership between art & the Church. Mine is an invitation to rediscover the depth of the spiritual & religious dimension which has been typical of art in its noblest forms in every age. It is with this in mind that I appeal to you, artists of the written & spoken word, of the theatre & music, of the plastic arts & the most recent technologies in the field of communication. I appeal especially to you, Christian artists: I wish to remind each of you that, beyond functional considerations, the close alliance that has always existed between the Gospel & art means that you are invited to use your creative intuition to enter into the heart of the mystery of the Incarnate God & at the same time into the mystery of man.}

_{Human beings, in a certain sense, are unknown to themselves. Jesus Christ not only reveals God, but “fully reveals man to man”. In Christ, God has reconciled the world to himself. All believers are called to bear witness to this; but it is up to you, men & women who have given your lives to art, to declare with all the wealth of your ingenuity that in Christ the world is redeemed: the human person is redeemed, the human body is redeemed, & the whole creation which, according to Saint Paul, “awaits impatiently the revelation of the children of God”, is redeemed. The creation awaits the revelation of the children of God also through art & in art. This is your task. Humanity in every age, & even today, looks to works of art to shed light upon its path & its destiny." - from Blessed John Paul II's Letter to Artists (1999)}

"Be always courageous seekers of truth and witnesses of charity .."

_{"The Church and artists meet again, to talk with one another, to support the need for a conversation that is and must be ever more intense and articulated, also to offer to culture, more than that, to the cultures of our time, an eloquent example of fruitful and effective dialogue, oriented to making our world ever more human and beautiful. Today you present to me the fruit of your activity, of your reflection, of your talent, expressions of the different artistic realms that you represent here: painting, sculpture, architecture, craftsmanship, photography, cinema, music, literature and poetry.}

_{Before admiring them with you, allow me to pause just a moment on the thought-provoking title of this exhibition: "The Splendour of Truth; the Beauty of Charity." In fact, in the homily of the Mass pro eligendo pontifice.. I defined the "living of truth in charity," as a fundamental formula of Christian existence. And I added: "Truth and charity coincide in Christ. To the degree that we come close to Christ, in our life also truth and charity unite. Charity without truth would be blind: truth without charity would be like a 'clanging cymbal'" (1 Cor 13:1).}

_{It is precisely from this union, I would like to say symphony, from the perfect harmony of truth and charity, that genuine beauty springs, capable of awakening admiration, wonder and true joy in men's hearts. The world in which we live needs truth to shine and not be obfuscated by lies or banality; it needs charity to inflame it and not to be overcome by pride and egoism. We need the beauty of truth and charity to reach the depth of our hearts and make them more human. Dear friends, I would like to renew to you and to all artists a friendly and passionate appeal: never separate artistic creativity from truth and charity; never seek beauty far from truth and charity, but with the richness of your genius, of your creative impulse, be always courageous seekers of truth and witnesses of charity. Make truth shine in your works so that their beauty awakens in the sights and hearts of those who admire them the desire to make their existence, all existence, beautiful and true, enriching it with that treasure that never diminishes, which makes of life a work of art and of every man an extraordinary artist: [the treasure of] charity, love.}

_{May the holy Spirit, architect of all beauty that is in the world, enlighten you always and guide you to the ultimate and definitive Beauty, the one which inflames our minds and hearts, and which we hope to be able to contemplate one day in all its splendor. Once again, thank you for your friendship, for your presence and for taking to the world a ray of this Beauty which is God. I impart to you wholeheartedly, to your loved ones and to the whole world of art my Apostolic Blessing.}

_{Papa Benedetto to Artists of Anniversary Exhibit - 7 July 2011
"The Splendour of Truth; the Beauty of Charity: Artists' Homage to Benedict XVI on the 60th Anniversary of His Priesthood}