Pope Francis Makes History at Venice Biennale Prison Exhibit on Social Justice Themes

Pope Francis made history during his recent visit to Venice by becoming the first pontiff to attend its contemporary art festival at a female prison. The 87-year-old Pope traveled to northeastern Italy via helicopter and addressed around 80 inmates, many of whom are involved in the exhibition titled “Con i miei occhi” (meaning “With my eyes”). Francis emphasized that society’s outsiders, particularly prisoners, were a cause for concern. The pavilion is curated by Chiara Parisi and Bruno Racine and includes works from several female artists who tackle issues such as inequality, racism, ecological imbalance, fear of the poor, and xenophobia through their artworks. During his speech at the prison chapel, Francis also highlighted Corita Kent’s contribution to Pop Art and her awareness-raising efforts regarding civil rights and racial injustice during a time when they faced resistance from Cardinal Archbishop James McIntyre of Los Angeles due to blasphemous artwork. The visit lasted just five hours but was packed with events, including meetings with young people, an open-air Mass at St Mark’s Square, prayer before Saint Mark’s relics in the basilica, and a warning about climate change threats facing Venice such as rising sea levels that could lead to its disappearance. This is the first time Vatican City has exhibited at a prison during the biennale; it was commissioned by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça’s culture office in 2013, and for 2024, the theme “Foreigners Everywhere” seeks to highlight artists from marginalized backgrounds.