Vatican Apostolic Library to host AQVA water exhibition

Pope Leo XIV will inaugurate a new exhibition titled ‘AQVA. Catastrophe and Wonder’ at the Vatican Apostolic Library on September 14. This event marks the first chapter of a five-year cycle dedicated to natural elements and their relationship with humanity, culture, and written heritage.

The exhibition explores the dual nature of water as both a source of life and a destructive force, a theme highlighted by the ongoing global climate crisis. The display features works from three contemporary figures: French artist JR, typographer Bill Moran, and chef Fulvio Pierangelini. A central piece is the monumental installation ‘Diluvium’ by JR, inspired by Gustave Doré’s 1866 woodcut of the biblical flood, which will be placed on the library’s 16th-century facade.

Historical and scientific elements are also integrated into the exhibition, including the 1557 treatise ‘Aquatilium animalium historia’ by Ippolito Salviani, which celebrates its 470th anniversary. The exhibition also commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1966 Florence flood. Visitors will encounter a range of manuscripts, prints, and engravings that illustrate the long-standing connection between water, science, and human knowledge.