Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the early evening of Saturday 4 July, the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided the Celebration of Vespers in the Pauline Chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, on the occasion of its reopening after restoration work. In his homily the Pope recalled that the Chapel, situated in the Apostolic Palace, was build at the request of Pope Paul III by Antonio da Sangallo the younger, “as a place of prayer reserved for the Pope and the Papal 'Family'”. Referring to two large frescoes by Michelangelo Buonarroti, the last in his long life, representing the conversion of Paul and the crucifixion of Peter, the Pontiff underlined “these two faces place a central role in the iconographic message of the Chapel ”.
Paul is portrayed with the face of an old man, although Michelangelo knew that Paul's calling on the road to Damascus happened when he was about thirty. “The face of Saul-Paul - which is actually the face of the artist himself, then an old man, anxious and in search of the life of the truth - represents the face of the human being in need of superior light – the Pontiff explained -. The light of divine grace … The face of Saul who has fallen to the ground is illuminated from above by the light of the Risen Christ and, in spite of its pathos, the portrayal inspires peace and infuses confidence. It expressed the maturity of man interiorly illuminated by Christ the Lord, while around him rotate a whirl of events in which all the figures are in a sort of vortex … In the face of Paul we already perceive the spiritual message of this Chapel: the wonder of the grace of Christ, which transforms and renews man with the light of His truth and love. In this consists the newness of conversion, the call to the faith, which finds its fulfilment in the mystery of the Cross.”
Peter is portrayed “as his cross is being hoisted and he turns to look at the people looking on. This face too surprises us”. In fact, Benedict XVI, the figure of Peter communicates not pain or suffering, but instead “ amazing physical vigour. The face, especially the forehead and the eyes, appear to express the man's attitude in the face of death and evil: there is a sort of confusion, a piercing gaze which seems almost to seek something or someone, at the final hour… this is the culminating hour of discipleship: the disciple is not more than his Master, and he now experiences all the bitterness of the cross, of the consequences of sin which separates from God, all the absurdity of violence and deceit. If one comes to meditate in this Chapel, one cannot escape the radical question posed by the cross: the cross of Christ, the Head of the Church, the cross of Peter, his Vicar on earth”.
Considering both these faces placed one in front of the other, the Holy Father said “these two icons can become two acts of the same drama: the drama of the Paschal Mystery: Cross and Resurrection, death and life, sin and grace … for those who come to pray in this Chapel, for the Pope, first of all, Peter and Paul are masters of faith. With their witness they call us to profound meditation in silence of the mystery of the Cross, which accompanies the Church until the end of time, and to receive the light of faith, thanks to which the apostolic Community can extend to the ends of the earth the missionary and evangelising task entrusted to her by the Risen Christ”.
“Here the Successor of Peter and his coolaborators meditate in silence and adore the living Christ, present especially in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist ” the Pope continued, recalling that in the Eucharist “is concentrated the whole work of Redemption ”. All the frescoes and decorations of the Chapel merge “into one hymn of victory of life and grace over death and sin, in a highly evocative symphony of praise and love for Christ the Redeemer”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2009; righe 45, parole 676)
