Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV will officially inaugurate a new exhibition at the Vatican Apostolic Library on September 14, marking the beginning of a major exhibition series that explores the relationship between history, culture and the modern world.
The Vatican Apostolic Library announced that the Pope will visit the library at 11 a.m. on September 14 to open the first chapter of the exhibition cycle, titled "AQVA," which forms part of the broader theme "Catastrophe and Wonder." The exhibition will later open to the public on selected days from September 25, 2026, until May 14, 2027.
The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the meaning of water, presenting it as both a powerful force that can bring destruction and a precious resource that sustains life. Through contemporary artistic expression and the Library's historic collections, the exhibition aims to encourage deeper thinking about humanity's relationship with nature and history.
The project has been curated by the Library's Vice Prefect Father Giacomo Cardinali together with Simona De Crescenzo, Francesca Giannetto and Delio Proverbio. Vatican officials said more information about the exhibition and its programme will be released in the coming weeks.
One of the unique features of the exhibition is the collaboration between three internationally known creative figures. French artist JR, American typographer Bill Moran and Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini have each created works that engage with the Library's priceless collections and historic spaces.
Each contributor brings a different artistic perspective, offering visitors a fresh interpretation of manuscripts, documents and other treasures preserved by one of the world's oldest libraries. Their work is intended to build a dialogue between contemporary creativity and centuries of cultural heritage.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration, the Librarian and Archivist of the Holy Roman Church, Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, expressed his joy at welcoming Pope Leo XIV to the Vatican Apostolic Library for the opening of the exhibition.
He said the exhibition reflects the Library's mission of bringing together the richness of its historic collections with the creativity of the present day. According to Monsignor Pagazzi, Pope Leo XIV has often spoken about remaining faithful to both the past and the future. He said the exhibition seeks to make the present a place where those two realities can meet in friendship, allowing people to discover new meaning in the treasures of history.
Founded centuries ago, the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the most important centres of learning and research in the world. It belongs directly to the Pope and plays an important role in supporting the mission and administration of the Holy See.
The Library preserves an extraordinary collection that includes ancient manuscripts, archives, printed books, coins, medals, maps, drawings, prints and photographs. These collections have long been available to qualified researchers from across the world, regardless of their nationality, religion or cultural background.
Although the Library is especially known for its work in philology and history, it also serves as an important centre for research in theology, law and the sciences. Its collections continue to support scholars studying some of the most significant documents in human history.
The roots of the Vatican Apostolic Library can be traced back to the papal archives known as the Scrinium, which existed as early as the fourth century. Its modern development began during the papacy of Pope Nicholas V in the fifteenth century, when he opened the papal book collections to scholars. Later, Pope Sixtus IV established a more permanent structure for the institution through the papal decree "Ad decorem militantis Ecclesiae" issued on June 15, 1475.
With the inauguration of the "AQVA" exhibition, the Vatican Apostolic Library continues its tradition of preserving the past while opening new paths for dialogue with the contemporary world. By combining historic treasures with modern artistic expression, the exhibition seeks to inspire visitors to see history not only as a record of the past but also as a source of hope, reflection and creativity for the future.