Biennale premiere

The Holy Father is going to jail!

(Bild: APA/AFP/Filippo MONTEFORTE)

For the first time in the history of the Venice Biennale, a pontiff will visit the pavilion of the Holy See this Sunday. Pope Francis is expected in the women's prison on the island of La Giudecca on Sunday, where he will visit the exhibition "With my eyes".

The pavilion of the Holy See will be inaugurated this weekend at the 60th International Art Biennale in Venice. The exhibition entitled "Con i miei occhi" ("With my eyes") is set in the women's prison on the island of La Giudecca and invites visitors to explore the stories and desires of the prisoners' lives.

Well-known, sometimes surprising artists have been engaged, such as Maurizio Cattelan - a master of provocation who once caused a sensation with Pope John Paul II, who was hit by a meteorite. The American nun Sister Corita and the French dancer Bintou Dembélé, some of whom created their works together with the prison inmates, also took part.

Maurizio Cattelan once provoked people with a sculpture of Pope John Paul II, who was killed by a meteorite(Bild: © APA/AFP/ALAIN JOCARD)

The Vatican took part in the Art Biennale in 2013 and 2015 and the Architecture Biennale in 2018 and 2021. With its presence at the Biennale, the Holy See wants to "consolidate the fruitful dialog with the world of art".