Pope: Art of the Vatican a "parable" for the world

October 26, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday evening viewed a Polish film on the Vatican Museums called “Art and Faith: The Way of Beauty at the Vatican”. In remarks after the screening, the Holy Father said that although the film is worthy of special note, since it appears at the beginning of the Year of Faith, which he inaugurated on Oct. 11. He noted that for many tourists, the Vatican Museums is the strongest contact, sometimes the only one, with the Holy See, hence it is an excellent opportunity to spread the Christian message. The Holy Father said the artistic heritage of Vatican City is a kind of “parable” by which the Pope can speak to the men and women of different religions and cultures from all over the world, - “people who may never read a [papal] speech or hear a sermon.” He said the medium of art is the language of parables, with a special openness to the universal. “The ‘Way of Beauty’ is a way capable of leading the mind and heart to the Lord, to elevate them to the heights of God,” he added.