Home Federations FIMP Assisi: Inauguration of the Exhibition “Laudato sie! Nature and Learning”

Assisi: Inauguration of the Exhibition “Laudato sie! Nature and Learning”

April 14, 2025

In commemoration of the 800^th anniversary of the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures, the oldest existing manuscript of this text is now on display, together with ninety-three rare works from the Ancient Collection of the Municipal Library of Assisi in the Papal Hall of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis.

To celebrate the 800^th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures (or the Canticle of Brother Sun, as it is also known), the Papal Hall in the Sacred Convent reopened to the public for the occasion and is hosting the exhibition: “Laudato sie! Nature and Learning: The Cultural Legacy of Friar Francis,” from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, October 12, 2025. The event is organized by the St. Francis Day Foundation in collaboration with the Sacred Convent, the Italian Academy Foundation, and the AntiquaE Association, under the patronage of the Italian Region of Umbria, the Municipality of Assisi, and the National Committee for the 800^th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis.
Starting with the oldest existing manuscript of the Canticle of the Creatures,—one of the earliest poetic texts written in the Italian vernacular—the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through ninety-three rare works from the Ancient Collection of the Municipal Library of Assisi, preserved in the Library of the Sacred Convent, all accompanied by continuous multimedia narration.
This exhibition presents a unique perspective on the Franciscan cultural and academic world. Through the rare and valuable medieval manuscripts and early printed texts on display, visitors are guided on a journey from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The exhibition provides access to the knowledge of the Franciscans, developed through their intellect and drawn from their texts, notes, and studies, which have been safeguarded for centuries in their rich library. The exhibit reflects a deep interplay between theological reflection and scholarly inquiry.
Friar Marco MORONI, the Custos of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Italy (Assisi), stated: “An exhibition of written texts might risk being appreciated only by academics. But that’s not the case here: the screens and immersive rooms with the animations of the images, as well as the sober and elegant layout, all within the remarkable setting of the Papal Hall, make this exhibition highly enjoyable and accessible to all audiences, who will surely benefit from it.”
The exhibition helps one understand how, over the centuries, the Franciscan Order has consistently demonstrated curiosity interwoven with religious meaning and wonder. This curiosity aligns with the poetic and mystical intuition found in the Canticle of the Creatures. However, it has always been accompanied by critical rigor, attention to concrete details, and the adoption of methodologies that are consistent with the scholarly developments of their time.
Above all, The Canticle of the Creatures can be regarded as a true “manifesto” for an empathetic and fraternal approach to Nature. This perspective remains relevant today, transcending time and cultural boundaries. It is no coincidence that it served as an inspiration for Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, published ten years ago.