On October 1, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., an exhibition entitled: “Laudato Sie! Nature and Knowledge. The Cultural Legacy of Brother Francis” was launched at the Museo di Roma – Palazzo Braschi, in Rome.
This exhibition features more than ninety manuscripts and rare books from the Antiquarian Fund of the Sacred Convent Library, which is owned by the Municipality of Assisi. The exhibit includes the very famous manuscript 338, which contains, among other things, the oldest transcription of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures. It shows how St. Francis’ vision of creation has been both the foundation and context for the development of the scholarly knowledge that has accumulated in Franciscan friaries over the centuries. The exhibition features a very impressive multimedia and interactive set-up.
The exhibit was developed as part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary St. Francis composing the Canticle of Creatures, with Professor Paolo CAPITANUCCI serving as the curator and Friar Carlo BOTTERO as the co-curator. It will remain open to the public until June 6, 2025. The exhibit was made possible by a collaborative effort between the Saint Francis Day Foundation and the Sacred Convent, in partnership with the Municipality of Rome, the Municipality of Assisi, and other institutions. Starting in March of 2025, the exhibition will move to the papal hall in the Sacred Convent in Assisi, where it will be displayed for another six months, specifically within the context of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis composing the Canticle. Those who came from Assisi to participate in the presentation and inauguration of the exhibition included the Custos of the General Custody of Assisi, Friar Marco MORONI, the librarian of the Sacred Convent, Friar Carlo BOTTERO, and the archivist of the Sacred Convent, Dr. Cristina ROCCAFORTE. The event was moderated by Professor Andrea MONDA, Director of the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.
Friar Giulio CESAREO
