Cardinal Mendonça: art is not a luxury, but a need of the spirit

The prefect of Dicastery for Culture and Education, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, exalted the figure of artists as “custodians of bliss”, whose work helps the world to “not miss the horizon of hope.”

“The artist is that or that which has the task of helping humanity not to lose direction, not Event of the 36 planned during the Holy Year, which will conclude on January 6, 2026.

“You, artists and culture people, are called to witness the revolutionary vision of bliss. His mission is not only to create beauty, but reveal the truth, goodness and beauty hidden in the folds of history, give voice to those who do not have it and transform pain into hope, ”he added.

Cardinal Mendonça celebrated the Eucharist this morning instead of Pope Francis, who on Friday was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli polyclinic in Rome due to bronchitis that has worsened in recent days. In any case, the Vatican reported that the homily that the Portuguese cardinal has read was prepared by the Holy Father.

As reported by the press office of the Holy See, the Pontiff was hospitalized to undergo some diagnostic tests and continue its treatment in a hospital environment. Although his clinical status is stable, absolute rest has been recommended, which will also prevent him from praying the Angelus.

In addition, the jubilee audience was canceled with different personalities from the art world and the show, scheduled for Saturday, as well as the visit of the pontiff to the mythical Roman studies of Cinecittà, which was scheduled for Monday, February 17.

In the homily, Cardinal Mendonça said to about hundreds of people linked to the art world that “true hope is intertwined with the drama of human existence. It is not a comfortable shelter, but a fire that burns and illuminates, like the Word of God. ”

Therefore, he explained that authentic art is always “an encounter with the mystery, with the beauty that surpasses us, with the pain that interrogates us, with the truth that calls us.”

He also assured that, before the “complex crisis” – especially of the soul – that the world lives today, it is necessary to ask questions: “Are we pilgrims or wandering? Do we walk with a goal or are we scattered, wandering? ”He urged to question.

He then cited the British priest and poet Gerard Manley Hopkins to underline that the artist’s mission is “to discover and reveal that hidden greatness, make it visible to our eyes and our hearts.”

Thus, he said that the work of the artists must “illuminate the path” of humanity to help distinguish “what is like ‘straw that the wind’ takes ‘of what is solid’ like a tree planted on the edge of the waters “And capable of bear fruit.”

“Dear artists, I see in you some custodians of beauty, a beauty that knows how to lean to the wounds of the world, who knows how to hear the shout of the poor, of those who suffer, of the wounded, of the prisoners, of the persecuted, of refugees, ”he said.

Art is not a luxury

The Prelate found that we currently live at a time when “new walls are built” and in which “the differences become a pretext for division rather than an occasion of mutual enrichment.”

Therefore, he called the men and women of culture to “build bridges, to create spaces for meeting and dialogue, to illuminate minds and turn on hearts.”

In his homily he also made it clear that “art is not a luxury, but a need of the spirit.” “It is not a flight, but a responsibility, an invitation to action,” he concluded.

In this way, he explained that “educating in beauty means educating in hope”, which is never separated “from the drama of existence.”

Finally, he called the artists to never stop questioning and risking because, he said, “true art is never comfortable: it offers the peace of restlessness.”