A Sacred Encounter in Assisi: Laudato Sie Exhibition Opens in the Heart of Italy
In the town of Assisi—birthplace of Saint Francis and symbol of spiritual devotion—Laudato Sie opened this spring in the historic Salone Papale, offering a profound reflection on ecology, faith, and cultural memory. The exhibition draws from the teachings of Saint Francis and the message of Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, creating a visual and emotional journey that bridges centuries.
At the heart of the show is the famed Canticle of the Creatures, one of the earliest pieces of Italian literature and a foundational text of Franciscan thought. Presented alongside rare illuminated manuscripts and sacred artifacts, the Canticle anchors the exhibition’s call to spiritual ecology and reverence for the natural world.
A dedicated museum shop accompanies the show, featuring specially designed pieces and the exhibition catalog Treasured Texts, Inspired Images—a volume that explores the rich symbolism and artistic interpretations within the exhibition.
Held in the monumental Salone Papale, the setting itself deepens the experience, combining architectural grandeur with spiritual intimacy. The exhibition honors not just history, but an ongoing call to care for creation and one another.
Laudato Sie is sponsored by the Francis Day Foundation and the Italian Academy Foundation, whose support has brought this vision to life in collaboration with religious, academic, and cultural institutions.
