Highlights from the cultural world of Rome
From Pius IX onwards, popes began to market their works using new techniques, especially photography. Leo XIII still used coloured postcards for the Holy Year of 1900. This Holy Year was difficult because the Roman question had not yet been resolved, which only happened in 1929 with the Lateran Treaties.
by Sascha Priester
Despite the current hot spell in the city, Stefan Heid and Dr Sascha Priester (archaeology consultant at the RIGG) did not miss the opportunity to visit the current exhibition ‘Magna Mater tra Roma e Zama’.
Italian Radio3 regularly broadcasts top concerts from the Cappella Paolina in the Quirinal Palace. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.
The Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology and the German Archaeological Institute are organising study days on the early Christian Roman churches in memory of Hugo Brandenburg (+ 2022). The conference is sponsored by the RIGG.
The Pro Musica e Arte Sacra Foundation in Rome is organising its 24th festival with performances in Sant'Ignazio, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo fuori le mura, San Giovanni in Laterano and the Palazzo della Cancelleria. The Regensburger Domspatzen, The Tallis Scholars, the Orchestra of the Christliches Jugenddorfwerk Deutschland, the choir and orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona and the Hamburg Boys' Choir will be taking part. Admission is free until the maximum number of participants has been reached.
After decades, the Holy See has a new website that largely integrates the old website, including visually. It is not clear whether any data has been lost in the process of transformation. Basically, most of it is the same as before. Even the ‘Bollettino’, which documents the Pope's daily appointments and actions, is as it used to be. There you will find the official photo of Pope Leo XIV. It is not known whether the rights are free or fees apply, so we are not using it here.
From Christian Hecht
Until 8 June only, Palazzo Caffarelli, now part of the Capitoline Museums and formerly the German Embassy, is hosting an extraordinary exhibition: ‘I Farnese nella Roma del Cinquecento. Origini e fortuna di una collezione’ - ’The Farnese in 16th century Rome. The origins and fate of an art collection’.
On 28 May, a study day will be held at the Lateran University to mark the 300th anniversary of the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XIII Orsini (1724-1730). Speakers include Villiam Stefan Dóci OP, Filippo Lovison, Francesca Paola Massara and Jörg Bölling. Topics include the liturgy, pastoral care, politics, the Dominican Order and the Holy Year.
Perhaps it has always been like this, but now, at the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, I was surprised to hear the three cries of ‘Feliciter! Feliciter! Feliciter!’, combined with the words “Tempora bona habeant”.
The Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has a new website. This was necessary for technical and functional reasons.
Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
