The Pontifical Council for Culture has backed away from plans to
participate in a high-profile exhibit of contemporary art, citing
administrative problems.
The Vatican body had been expected to enter the 2011 Venice Biennale,
one of Europe’s most celebrated events featuring modern art.
But the
Pontifical Council for Culture, which would have handled the Vatican
entry, has now withdrawn from next year’s exhibit.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the president of the Pontifical Council, had
acknowledged that a Vatican entry would provoke controversy.
“I already
know that we'll come under fire,” he had told the Italian daily Avvenire
when the Vatican entry was still expeced.
“Some will accuse us of
giving credit to 'depraved' art and others will criticize our selection
as being too 'religious.'"
SIC: CC/INT'L