The Vatican Apostolic Library has created a new exhibition hall for contemporary art, which will be inaugurated by Pope Francis on November 5. The first exhibition, titled "EVERYONE: Humanity on its way," features unpublished works by Roman artist Pietro Ruffo, including a site-specific installation in the Sala Barberini that transforms the space into a tropical forest. Historic treasures from the library, such as a 17th-century map of the Nile by Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi, will be displayed in dialogue with Ruffo's contemporary reinterpretations.
This initiative matters because it represents a deliberate effort by the Vatican to strengthen its cultural role in the contemporary world by bridging ancient religious heritage with modern artistic expression. The contrast between centuries-old manuscripts and contemporary art creates a unique "culture of encounter," as described by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, potentially attracting new audiences to the Vatican's historic collections and fostering dialogue between tradition and the present.