Salerno, at the Temple of Pomona: the exhibition “Francis of Assisi, mystic and pilgrim” celebrates the Saint in the heart of the Jubilee 2025

Salerno is ready to host the prestigious art exhibition “Francis of Assisi, mystic and pilgrim”, organized on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures.

A journey through the spirituality and earthly path of the Saint, which will be hosted in the heart of the city from May 30 to June 22, 2025. The event, promoted by the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno as part of the Jubilee 2025, will be inaugurated on Friday, May 30 - at 18:30 pm - at the evocative Temple of Pomona, a place full of history, located near the Cathedral and adjacent to the vestibule of the bishop's palace.

The curators of the exhibition, Lorella Parente – Director of the Diocesan Office for Culture and Art – and Fra Domenico Marcigliano OFM – Head of the Art and Culture Office of the OFM Province, will guide visitors in an immersive experience in the Franciscan heritage, in harmony with the theme of the Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope and with the figure of Saint Francis, pilgrim of the spirit and of life.

For Monsignor Andrea Bellandi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, the exhibition represents a significant piece of the Jubilee, highlighting the profound bond between Saint Francis, hope and pilgrimage.

The public visiting the gallery will have the opportunity to admire photographic images of works kept in the Franciscan convents of the territory, reproduced in scale 58x80 cm and dedicated to the theme Francis mystic and pilgrim. Alongside these, lesser-known artistic expressions will be highlighted, but deeply rooted in the Franciscan tradition.

The exhibition will be enriched by an unpublished work by the architect Renaldo Fasanaro, entitled Sulla barca dello Spirito: San Francesco pellegrino universale, a tribute to the pilgrimage that characterized the life and work of the Saint.

The centrality of the theme of pilgrimage also emerges in the words of the curators of the exhibition, Lorella Parente and Fra Domenico Marcigliano, who described Saint Francis as an exceptional pilgrim and a model of sanctity and conversion:
“The motto Pilgrims of Hope is well associated with the figure and work of Saint Francis: his life, in fact, represents an exemplary journey of conversion and sanctity.

His courageous choices, his style of apostolate and the traits of joy and praise to God, present even in the midst of suffering, make him an exceptional pilgrim, a diffuser of Christian hope for all brothers and sisters in the world.”

In the heart of the Jubilee, this exhibition represents a unique opportunity to celebrate the figure of Saint Francis, paying homage to his spiritual journey. Through art, faith and history, it offers visitors a powerful starting point for reflection: an invitation to meditate on the message of hope that the Saint continues to spread even today.

Info
Where: Tempio di Pomona, Salerno When: May 30 – June 22, 2025 Inauguration: May 30, 18:30 pm Entrance: free