Press Release by the
Dicastery for Human Integral Development
Education and Beauty as a path against corruption.
(Vatican Museums, 17 May 2018)
“Education and beauty against corruption.” This is the message that the Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development will launch together with the youth of Scampia in an initiative next Thursday, 17 May, also with the participation of the Vatican Museums.
In fact, at 10 a.m., the “Dignità e Bellezza” group of the Istituto Superiore Attilio Romanò of Scampia, Secondigliano and Miano (Naples) and the Centro Hurtado di Scampia will be received at the Vatican Museums for a free visit to the artistic heritage preserved in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Some members of the Dicastery presided by Card. Peter K.A. Turkson, who promoted the event, and of the Museums directed by Barbara Jatta, will accompany the approximately fifty students along this educational path of rediscovery of our extraordinary cultural heritage.
The initiative is part of a journey that the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development started in June 2017, when - within the context of an international debate organized in the Vatican - the International Consultation Group for justice, corruption, organized crime and mafias was founded, driven by the constant calls of Pope Francis to carry out an inner conversion in favor of the common good and legality. Later on, in February 2018, a moment of reflection precisely at the Istituto Romanò was organized during which, a presentation was also held for the books "Corrosion" by Card. Turkson and "Pane Sporco" by Vittorio Alberti, Official of the Dicastery and expert on themes of politics and law.
“Corruption, - writes Pope Francis in the preface to “Corrosione” – expresses the general form of fallen man’s disordered life […] and reveals an anti-social behavior”. However, it is necessary to be careful, because corruption, which is the most common language of the mafias and of the world’s criminal organizations, “sprouts in the heart of all men” and prospers “if one withdraws into oneself and when thought and heart do not explore a more ample horizon”. For this reason, it is useful to raise one’s head towards the beauty of art: to go beyond oneself and “raise one’s head against all forms of injustice”, concludes the Pope. It is just like Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement”, giving that thrust capable of the motivation to go towards the other. This is the goal of the journey undertaken. The integral formation of the person is “the way of beauty as the search for justice in mercy”, said Card. Turkson.
Future events will be held in Teano on June 1, in a conference entitled “Fighting corruption and mafia with culture,” which will include the participation of institutions of the local Church and “Associazione Libera”, and also in Monreale on June 22, where the Dicastery will attempt to promote a constant contact on such issues with the local Dioceses and territorial institutions.
For information please contact the Press and Communications Office of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: Roberto Paglialonga (r.paglialonga@humandevelopment.va), Pamela Fabiano (p.fabiano@humandevelopment.va), Claudia di Lorenzi (c.dilorenzi@humandevelopment.va ).