by Vittoria Prisciandaro
Following him on social media is a desperate undertaking, given the amount of material he shares: theological and current affairs articles he writes for the main Italian newspapers and magazines, book presentations, meetings with contemporary artists, trips with Pope Francis… And every now and then a few images of his Messina, which is dear to him, where he goes to stay connected to his lifelong friends. Father Antonio Spadaro, 58, a Jesuit, directed La Civiltà Cattolica for 12 years. A year ago he moved to the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education, where, in the office overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he has a painting by Mimmo Jodice depicting a face emerging from a torn page, and a work by Maurizio Cattelan. At the dicastery of which he is undersecretary, he remains faithful to his deepest passions: art, literature, cinema… “Nothing human scares me,” he says, with an expression that speaks of a curiosity that is not afraid to confront even heterodox themes and characters.
What does Father Spadaro expect from the Jubilee? “That in the world there was this reconciliation that the Jubilee can bring,” he replies. “We live in a world of too strong oppositions, of ideological polarizations, among other things radicalized by communication played on oppositions. We need this land of ours to be put to rest so that it can bear greater fruit. That of the rest of the land for the Jubilee is a very beautiful biblical image. I hope it can also say something to us today, that we can take advantage of this time of grace to find the “formula” of reconciliation that can open up a better world for us.”
Continues….
Read the full interview with Father Antonio Spadaro by purchasing the issue of Believe on newsstands from Thursday 26 September and distributed in the parish from Saturday 28 September. Or buy a digital copy www.edicolasanpaolo.it/scheda/credere.aspx
• This interview with Father Antonio Spadaro is part of Wayfarers of Hopea series of dialogues with personalities from the world of the Church, culture, social commitment, entertainment and sport in preparation for the Jubilee 2025. This is a multimedia project which, in addition to the service on Believealso includes the television version of this interview which will be broadcast on Telenova (Channel 18 of digital terrestrial in Lombardy and Eastern Piedmont) on Tuesday 1 October at 10.30 pm and Wednesday 2 October at 11.00 am. The video of all the interviews (including those with Gemma Calabresi, Don Luigi Verdi, Barbara Jatta, Antonella Lumini and Cardinal Ravasi) is also available on the Telenova App and website (www.telenova.it).