The Papal Gallery

 

Pope Benedict XVI

Oil on canvas
Antonella Cappuccio (Italian, b. 1946)

Commissioned in anticipation of the pope’s first U.S. visit in April 2008, the painting causes one to reflect on the first encyclical letter by Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) and the New Testament parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

Here we see a standing figure of Pope Benedict XVI dressed in the vestments of his office as Supreme Pontiff. A soft golden drape becomes the background, along with an Italiante landscape of rolling hills. On his right is an opened book inscribed in Latin that relays the message of his first encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est (God is Love). It was dedicated to the bishops, priests and deacons, men and women religious and all the lay faithful on Christian Love.

The encyclical contains almost 16,000 words. The first half was conceived in German, Benedict’s native tongue; the second half is derived from the uncompleted writings left by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. The document was signed by Benedict on December 25, 2005, and was promulgated in Latin on Jan. 25, 2006, and officially translated into seven other languages.

The pope's left hand rests on a stand that displays the opened book, with a highly detailed image taken from the New Testament parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). It was told by Jesus in order to illustrate that compassion should be for all people and aid provided for everyone in distress, without hesitation.

His other hand rests on the figure of a small angel, whose outstretched arms uphold the light of the world emanating from a small oil lamp. A key passage of the encyclical and an invitation by the pope to experience the love of Christ, tells us that love is the light - and in the end, the only light - that can illuminate a world grown dim and gives us courage needed to keep living and working. It is on the base of this lamp that the artist has chosen to sign her name, A. Cappuccio.