The Holy City State and All Its Trappings

Culture of Change Show Notes: Episode 76

Ashe in America

and

Paul Fleuret

Oct 06, 2024

WATCH EPISODE 76 HERE

One of my most anticipated adventures in Europe was visiting the Vatican, and it did not disappoint. On tonight’s Culture of Change, Paul and I are going through my learnings, videos, and pictures, and I’ll share my experiences. Be sure to tune in for my first impressions, certain confusion, much ado about dead popes, and more.

The Premise & First Impressions

From History.com:

“The Vatican’s history as the seat of the Catholic Church began with the construction of a basilica over St. Peter’s grave in Rome in the 4th century A.D. The area developed into a popular pilgrimage site and commercial district, although it was abandoned following the move of the papal court to France in 1309. After the Church returned in 1377, famous landmarks such the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel and the new St. Peter’s Basilica were erected within the city limits. Vatican City was established in its current form as a sovereign nation with the signing of the Lateran Pacts in 1929.”

Indeed, the grave of Apostle Peter is a feature of the Vatican, and a reminder that the Catholic Church elevates men – not just Peter, even Francesco – to god-like status. Reminder of the first two commandments:

“You shall have no other gods before Me,” and “You shall make no idols.”

Graven images are everywhere at the Vatican, along with painted, sewn, and chiseled images, deifying the apostles, the mother of Jesus, and a whole lot of popes.

The Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is a wonder to behold. It’s stunning and there is barely an inch that isn’t adorned in historic, often ancient, artworks. From the Basilica website:

“On 18 April 1506, the Saturday after Easter, Pope Julius II (1503-1513) laid the first stone of the new Saint Peter’s Basilica on the site of the present-day (south-west) pillar of Saint Veronica, which at the time stood outside the old Constantinian and medieval church, to the left of the apse.
According to the description by the master of ceremonies Paride de Grassis, the Pope descended into the deep pit of the foundation (7.45 metres) via a ladder set up for the occasion, dressed in pontifical robes. After a brief ceremony, the pontiff laid the first marble stone of the new Basilica, and placed in the ground a terracotta vessel with twelve medals modelled by Cristoforo Foppa, known as Caradosso, to commemorate the foundation of the building about to be constructed.
Thus began an unprecedented artistic and spiritual adventure, which would last over a century, through twenty pontificates. Despite adopting different architectural plans and solutions from time to time, the Renaissance popes never wished to diverge from the preceding tradition, which placed the tomb of Saint Peter at the centre of the Basilica.”

Then There Is the Museum

This description from the museum’s website is particularly disturbing considering that the museum itself holds so many Greek, Roman, and otherwise pagan idols, prominently on display. The museum includes an extensive statue collection that is said to be the collection of all the popes over time.

Popes collecting graven images of false gods raises some questions. That they prominently display such artifacts in an allegedly holy Christian site raises many more. Considering all that, check out the museum’s description of the purpose of its own purpose:

“Art, aside from being a credible witness to the beauty of creation, is also a tool of evangelisation. In the Church it exists above all to evangelise: through art – music, architecture, sculpture, painting – the Church explains and interprets the revelation. Let us look at the Sistine Chapel: what did Michelangelo do? He carried out a work of evangelisation.
As in medieval cathedrals: the catechism was in the stone sculptures, since the people did not know how to read but instead learned by observing the sculptures. The Church has always used art to demonstrate the wonder of God’s creation and the dignity of man created in His image and semblance, as well as the power of death, and the beauty of Christ’s resurrection that brings rebirth to a world afflicted by sin.
Beauty unites us and, as St. John Paul II said, quoting Dostoyevsky, will save us. Following Christ is not only true but also beautiful, able to fill our life with joy, even in everyday difficulties. In this sense beauty represents a way of encountering the Lord.”

During tonight’s show, we will explore the statues, tapestries, maps, chapels, and so much more from my journey to Vatican City. In particular, the “work of evangelism” of Michaelango was a revelation.

Sistine Chapel: The Last Judgment:

From Italian-renaissance-art.com:

“The Last Judgment by Michelangelo covers the wall behind the altar in the Sistine Chapel. The work depicts the second coming of Christ and, although the artist is clearly inspired by the Bible, it is his own imaginative vision that prevails in this painting.

The picture radiates out from the centre figure of Christ, and Michelangelo has chosen to depict the various saints included in the work holding the instruments of their martyrdom rather than the actual scenes of torture. When executing his ‘Last Judgment’ Michelangelo had been given artistic license to paint scenes, not only from the Bible but also from mythology. This shows great faith in the artist by his patron, Pope Paul III. Unfortunately, it was decided that works of art in sacred places had to be modest and a pupil of Michelangelo, Daniele da Volterra, was commissioned to cover the figures' nakedness with loincloths and veils. Originally all the figures were naked, but da Volterra's intervention earned him the nickname of the maker of breeches.

Other overpainting was added in the next two centuries and for the same reason. With the restoration of the chapel in the 1980s and 1990s only Daniele da Volterra's additions have been saved as part of the history of the painting, all other additions have now been removed.”

So much to say about this one. Dante’s influences are particularly interesting.

Tune in at 6pET for our full discussion on Badlands Media!