White night in the Vatican by Jubileo de los Artists

After seven in the afternoon, the Basilica of San Pedro in the Vatican usually closes its doors until the next day. However, the so -called “White Night” held on Sunday, February 16, challenged this custom.

Upon hiding the sun and after the thousands of tourists and pilgrims left the iconic temple, a group of artists and personalities from the world of culture were able to visit the Basilica of San Pedro and cross their holy door.

The Dicasterio for Culture and Education, together with the San Pedro factory, organized this event within the framework of the Jubilee of the Artists, which has been held the weekend in Rome.

The lucky ones were able to travel the basilica with hardly any light, guided by the flashes that emanated from the window of the Holy Spirit from the altar of the confession, the candlesticks on the tomb of San Pedro and by the subtle bluish lighting on the lateral statues that guided the faithful to the bucket.

This unusual visit was also accompanied by Bach’s music, played by the Italian cellist Jacopo Di Tonno, creating an environment that invited artists to prayer and recollection.

The staging was carried out by Andrea Chiodi, who in statements to Vatican media said that “this path is also the one that the Pope suggests when he emphasizes that art must rediscover beauty and be in some way comforting in such a difficult historical moment ”

Among the attendees was Italian actress Daniela Poggi, who pointed out that “it is a night of walking to Jesus, to God, towards the Holy Spirit.”

Pope Francis regretted not being able to participate In this jubilee from the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where he has been admitted since last Friday due to bronchitis.

“I thank Dicasterio for culture and education for preparing this event, which reminds us of the importance of art as a universal language that disseminates beauty and unites peoples, contributing to bring harmony to the world and to silence all the screams of war” , he said.