Pope Leo XIV thanks Biennale artists

The Vatican is present at the 2026 Venice Biennale with two contributions. International artists and nuns participated, inspired by Hildegard of Bingen. Pope Leo XIV thanked creators for collaborating with the Vatican, especially at the Venice Biennale. He said their work is invaluable in an age of consumerism and technological progress. He stated the Church needs artists especially in the era of artificial intelligence. He cited his encyclical Magnifica humanitas, noting algorithms lack the spark of humanity while authentic culture preserves it.

Hildegard of Bingen inspired the Biennale theme The ear is the eye of the soul. The Pope described art as an antenna receptive to human questions, turning them into audible and visible expressions. He highlighted the 2024 Venice Biennale pavilion in a women's prison on Giudecca, visited by his predecessor Pope Francis, emphasizing that the project allowed prisoners to share art with the world. Filmmaker Alexander Kluge contributed the project title. The Vatican renews its alliance with artists to preserve humanity.