Art from Catacomb to today, our shared heritage – Bishop Verdon

April 24, 2012: One of the oldest "ways" that the Church has followed in her pilgrim journey towards eternal life, is that of beauty, the "Way of Beauty", clearly attested in our sacred art, said Bishop Timothy Verdon, Director of the Diocesan Office for Religious Art and Cultural Heritage of the Church, Florence, at the 7th World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism which began on Monday in Cancún, Mexico.

Speaking on "The cultural heritage of the Church at the service of tourism and evangelization, he examined the papal magisterium on art and its pastoral value, and elaborated on how in today’s "image culture", the heritage of sacred art can come in handy in the mission to preach the Gospel.

He further explored the pastoral function of art, art and prayer, style and spirituality, art and life, art and community, and tourist as pilgrims.

From the catacombs to the present day, Christians have created works - especially images of Christ, Mary, saints and holy men and women- which have become part of our shared heritage. It is a heritage of over 2000 years old, a treasure entrusted from one generation to the next, a legacy that enriches at the same time, believers and nonbelievers, he explained.

Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s introduction to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said that "even the image may preach the Gospel."

Today more than ever, in our civilization of the image, a sacred representation can express much more than the words themselves, given the extraordinary effectiveness of its power of communication and transmission of the Gospel message", Bishop Timothy Verdon added.