‘It is an explosion of colour and perfection’. Father Enzo Fortunato, St Peter's Basilica's head of communications, speaks in enthusiastic tones: the restoration of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Baldachin that towers in St Peter's Basilica and of St Peter's Cathedra are almost complete. Both works will return to shine on the occasion of the Jubilee.
From the Baldachin, the scaffolding and tarpaulins set up for the work will be removed in the coming days and from 27 October the monumental work will return to be admired in all its beauty by pilgrims and visitors. The unveiling of the altar of St Peter's Chair will have to wait until next month (cleaning work is still in progress).
The restoration has restored the contrasts between the dark base and the gold that has once again shone. Presenting a preview of the results of the restoration to the accredited press in the Vatican this morning was the Cardinal Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Mauro Gambetti.
‘It is a memorable, extraordinary restoration work,’ he commented, explaining that Sunday 27 October, chosen for the official inauguration, is “highly symbolic”. It is the date of the World Day of Prayer for Peace that St John Paul II wanted in Assisi in 1986. It is also the Sunday on which the closing mass of the Synod will be celebrated this year.
‘Pope Francis came to see how the work was progressing and appreciated it very much,’ Gambetti said, stressing that the restored Baldachin “manifests the beauty that the Church should reflect”. This work, together with the restoration of the ancient Cathedra (which will be on display from 27 October to 8 December in the same basilica) and the glass that protects Michelangelo's Pieta, ‘leads us towards the Jubilee of Hope. And we need hope in this world.’
The restoration has restored the contrasts between the dark base and the gold that has once again shone. Presenting a preview of the results of the restoration to the accredited press in the Vatican this morning was the Cardinal Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Mauro Gambetti.
‘It is a memorable, extraordinary restoration work,’ he commented, explaining that Sunday 27 October, chosen for the official inauguration, is “highly symbolic”. It is the date of the World Day of Prayer for Peace that St John Paul II wanted in Assisi in 1986. It is also the Sunday on which the closing mass of the Synod will be celebrated this year.
‘Pope Francis came to see how the work was progressing and appreciated it very much,’ Gambetti said, stressing that the restored Baldachin “manifests the beauty that the Church should reflect”. This work, together with the restoration of the ancient Cathedra (which will be on display from 27 October to 8 December in the same basilica) and the glass that protects Michelangelo's Pieta, ‘leads us towards the Jubilee of Hope. And we need hope in this world.’
‘When there is a wedding in a family,’ said Father Enzo Fortunato, ‘you clean the house and prepare new clothes. We are doing this for the basilica preparing for next year's Jubilee’.
Bearing the financial burden of the restoration, Father Fortunato added, was the Order of the Knights of Columbus.
Engineer Alberto Capitanucci, head of the technical area of the Fabric of St. Peter's in the Vatican, told reporters that the work had been started ‘with many fears because the accessibility of the Baldachin has always been a problem’ and in fact ‘the last major restoration was about 250 years ago’. Then he also revealed some anecdotes of the work in recent months that ‘tell the story of life, such as the signatures and initials that the cleaning workers have left over the centuries in the upper part, under the pediments’.
Bearing the financial burden of the restoration, Father Fortunato added, was the Order of the Knights of Columbus.
Engineer Alberto Capitanucci, head of the technical area of the Fabric of St. Peter's in the Vatican, told reporters that the work had been started ‘with many fears because the accessibility of the Baldachin has always been a problem’ and in fact ‘the last major restoration was about 250 years ago’. Then he also revealed some anecdotes of the work in recent months that ‘tell the story of life, such as the signatures and initials that the cleaning workers have left over the centuries in the upper part, under the pediments’.