Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has intervened to close early the blasphemous exhibition 'Gratia plena' in the church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola in Capri in March and April 2024.
The
news was announced by the lawyer Francesco Minutillo during a hearing
on 20th January in a criminal case for blasphemy. The defendants are the
artist Andrea Saltini and the Archbishop of Modena and Capri, Erio
Castellucci, 64.
One painting in the exhibition depicted what appeared to be homosexual and necrophiliac acts on the body of Christ.
After
the exhibition closed, Cardinal Parolin wrote to a Catholic that 'many'
of the faithful had been disturbed. He also hinted to the diocese, in
his diplomatic language, that he had favoured an early closure.
"I
have not found it easy to intervene in such a situation. I have tried
to do so with compassion and respect for all parties involved, and with
an eye to the peace and unity of the community of the faithful, which
has been tested by this affair," he wrote.
Before the unexpected
closure, Archbishop Castellucci had defended the blasphemy. The closure
was explained as the artist's decision for "economic reasons". He needed
to invest in security to protect his works after alleged damage.
The next hearing in the criminal case is scheduled for 3 March. Cardinal Parolin will be called as a witness.
Picture: Pietro Parolin © Mazur CC BY-NC-ND, #newsXcjuqkjzpd