The President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Capeloa Gil, was one of the speakers at the international conference that brought together representatives of the world's most renowned artistic and museological institutions this Saturday in Rome, during the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture.
Dedicated to the theme ‘Sharing Hope - Horizons of Cultural Heritage’, the meeting aimed to reflect on the possibilities, methods and current languages for promoting and valorising religious and artistic heritage, ending with the signing of an educational manifesto on the transmission of the cultural code of religions. It was attended by curators, academics from the art world and directors of prestigious institutions such as the Vatican Museums, the National Gallery in London, the Museo Nacional del Prado, the National Gallery Washington, the Museo Egizio and the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.
‘To argue that changing cultural codes obliterates heritage presupposes a static view of culture. The history of Christianity itself illustrates a pattern of integration, incorporating diverse influences from Asia to Greece, from the festive traditions of northern tribes to the indigenous symbolism of pre-Columbian civilisations. Even a historically dominant cultural tradition is not defined by homogeneity or permanence, but by pluralism and evolution,’ emphasised Isabel Capeloa Gil, who spoke as President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities.
‘Our responsibility is to provide new and unexpected coalitions that invite new protagonists into the heritage discourse,’ said the Rector of Católica.
This international conference is part of the programme dedicated to the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture, from 15 to 18 February in Rome, which also included the opening of exhibitions and meetings with artists, among other events.
The Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture is organised by the Holy See's Dicastery for Culture and Education, headed by Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça.
