“Antiquorum Habet” explores Church Jubilees since AD 1300

“Antiquorum Habet” explores Church Jubilees since AD 1300

(Vatican Radio) An extensive free exhibition opens in Rome this week showing an array of artifacts from Holy Jubilees of past centuries. “Antiquorum Habet” will be inaugurated 15 March by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian Senate President Pietro Grasso.

The exhibition is housed in the Sala Zuccari of the Palazzo Giustiniani on via della Dogana Vecchia in Rome.

The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history of the Jubilee, from 1300 to the present day. Maps of pilgrim routes are shown as well as the history of the patriarchal basilicas. There are manuscripts, printed books, etchings, newspapers, magazines, photographs and documentaries of the Italian Senate.

Many precious documents have been provided by the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Numismatic Office of the Vatican City. In addition to the 500 artifacts on display, visitors have the opportunity to see more than 1,300 digital images on 5 computer stations in the Sala Zuccari, as well as archival video footage, provided courtesy of Rai Teche and Istituto Luce.

The title of the exhibition, Antiquorum Habet, is taken from the first words of the Papal Bull of the Jubilee of 1300 promulgated by Pope Boniface VIII. The document itself is on display, a rare occasion of public exposure only granted in exceptional cases by the Apostolic Library.

In the same room, visitors can see a precious artifact with a connection to the great Medieval poet Dante Alighieri – a gold locket containing dust and fragments of laurel leaves taken from his tomb. The tomb of the poet was opened in 1865 on the occasion of the 6^th centenary of his birth. Scholars generally accept that Dante was in Rome for the first Holy Year in 1300. Along with the locket, the exhibition displays valuable editions of the works of the great poet.

The exhibition covers the development of the rites and the ceremonies of the Jubilee Year from two perspectives – the pilgrim and the destination, in this case, Rome.

The exhibition officially opens 15 March for media and dignitaries and for the public on the 16^th, running to 1 May.

www.en.radiovaticana.va