Open Doors to Hope

Rome (Italy). From 14 to 16 April 2025 in Rome, in the suggestive setting of the Pincio Terrace overlooking Piazza del Popolo, 30 artists from all over the world, representing different cultures and religions, will give life to the exhibit-workshop “Open Doors to Hope”.

The exhibit – curated by Fondazione Migrants, Earth Day Italy, Association Madonnari Rodomonte Gonzaga -is part of the project “Open Doors”  evolution in jubilee key of the workshop “Emotions to Generate Change”, developed in collaboration with the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, to make art and communication tools to promote social change.

The initiative aims to raise awareness and engage the public on crucial issues such as peace, climate change, migration, the role of women through different forms of art, creating a deep, emotional, and reflective connection with the realities represented.

About 30 works inspired by the theme of “Open Doors” will tell through art, the encounter between culture and faith, interweaving tradition and innovation. Made with techniques ranging from the oldest to the most contemporary, the works will take shape under the eyes of the public, in an open and shared space, while artists will guide visitors on an immersive journey between styles and visions.

San Biagio House of Prayer, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of  St. John Bosco Province (IRO), participates in the event with an iconography workshop, creating on site the icon of the disciples of Emmaus, in line with the theme of hope. The Fathers of the Church defined the icon as, “the Word of God written in color”. For this reason, the Gospel passage from Luke (Lk 24:13-27) was the inspiration to write this icon.

The  iconography workshop “Nazareth” of Subiaco was built about 40 years ago, by the intuition of Sister Maria Pia Giudici, a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians who in the 80’s moved to San Biagio to create a house of prayer based on the Word of God. The school of iconography follows the ancient techniques of the Byzantine iconography of egg tempera on pinboard and with true gold 23 3⁄4. Some residential courses are organized during the summer and Christmas period, in which one is immersed in Byzantine spirituality and the days are marked by prayer and work.

The event “Open Doors” will culminate in an exhibit of the works, which will be inaugurated on 16 April at 15:00 with a ceremony that includes interventions by the various authorities invited, a few minutes for each artist representative of the various cultures, and a moment of ecumenical prayer.