Pope Leo XIV launched the AQVA – Catastrophe and Wonder exhibition at the Vatican Library on September 14, featuring a large-scale installation by French artist JR titled Diluvium. The exhibit explores water's dual role as both life-giving and destructive through art pieces, rare books like Ippolito Salviani’s 16th-century study of aquatic animals, and discussions on manuscript conservation. The exhibition runs from September 25, 2026, to May 14, 2027, with access limited to certain days.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
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Story summary
On Monday, September 14, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the AQVA – Catastrophe and Wonder exhibit at the Vatican Library, featuring a 70-meter-long installation by French street artist JR outside the library. Inside, the exhibition showcases works from American typographer Bill Moran and Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini alongside historical texts like Aquatilium animalium historiae, an aquatic animals study published in the 16th century by Ippolito Salviani. The exhibit explores water's dual nature as a life-giving force and destructive agent, also addressing its impact on ancient manuscripts and restoration efforts. AQVA marks the beginning of a five-year series at the Vatican Library focusing on catastrophes and wonders, with subsequent themes including fire, light, insects, and human intervention. Public access to AQVA will be available from September 25, 2026, until May 14, 2027, on designated days only.
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Pope Leo XIV inaugurated AQVA – Catastrophe and Wonder on Monday, 14 September.
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XIV → inaugurate → Monday
Visitors enter through Diluvium, a 70-metre-long installation by French street artist JR, the first site-specific work commissioned for the exterior of the 16th-century library.
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Visitors → enter → library
Inside, art and rare books explore water as both a source of life and a force of destruction.
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art → explore → destruction
Works by American typographer Bill Moran and Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini are shown alongside Aquatilium animalium historiae, a 16th-century study of fish and aquatic animals by Italian naturalist Ippolito Salviani, published 470 years ago.
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Works → show → Salviani
The exhibition also examines the damage water can cause to ancient manuscripts and the role it can play in their restoration.
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it → examine → restoration
AQVA launches the Vatican Library’s five-year Catastrophe and Wonder series, which will later turn to fire, light, insects and human intervention.
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which → launch → fire
The exhibition opens on 25 September 2026 and runs until 14 May 2027, with public access on selected days.
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exhibition → open → days
