Bent Cross of Paul VI is Broken But Repaired by Duct Tape For Pope's Visit to Sarajevo

This hideous, radioactive ferula was designed by the modernist artist Lello Scorzelli (1921-1997)  for Pope Paul VI, which was used for the first time to close the Vatican Council in 1965.   

It had mercifully disappeared for the most part during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI, who replaced it with one used by Saint Pius IX (ora pro nobis)  but has now resurfaced as a counterpoise to Pope Francis horizontal, withering pastoral perspectives.

Now it appears that the "bent cross" has broken, as it seems to have been repaired by duct tape in this picture below.

This is singularly symbolic of the Franciscoid pontificate.



Thanks to trusty reader and H/T to Marian Horvath for some details about this ugly thing.

Pope Francis’ Aesthetic Tastes Are Revealing

Edit: another feature of Pope Francis that might provide an indication of what his approach to the Liturgy and sacred art will be, are the things he likes.  According to Nick Squires, the Pope’s favorite “painting” is Marc Chagall’s Crucifiction:

His favorite film is Babette’s Feast:



A Review on Rotten Tomatoes:

The Danish/French Babette's Feast is based on a story by Isak Dinesen, also the source of the very different Out of Africa (1985). Stephane Audran plays Babette, a 19th century Parisian political refugee who seeks shelter in a rough Danish coastal town. Philippa (Bodil Kjer) and Martina (Birgitte Federspiel), the elderly daughters of the town's long-dead minister, take Babette in. As revealed in flashback, Philippa and Martina were once beautiful young women (played by Hanne Stensgaard and Vibeke Hastrup), who'd forsaken their chances at romance and fame, taking hollow refuge in religion. Babette holds a secret that may very well allow the older ladies to have a second chance at life. This is one of the great movies about food, but there are way too many surprises in Babette's Feast to allow us to reveal anything else at this point (except that Ingmar Bergman "regulars" Bibi Andersson and Jarl Kulle have significant cameo roles).. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

More Religious Art

Edit: Could it be that the Wu Tang Clan has become Catholic? This photo appeared on EWTN’s FB site. If anyone knows about the who, what and where, please share.

Come at me Bro!

Ugly Statue of Pope John Paul II Pseudo-Corrected

The Italian Media Gushes Over Scrap Metal "Art" Piece

Editor: you probably thought this thing was going to be taken down and sold for scrap, but no.  Despite worldwide contempt for this work, there will only be some minor alterations to it and it will stand in place where drunks can build fires in its hollows and perhaps share some schnapps on their drinking binges.  Hopefully, there will be a needle exchange nearby as well to complete the sense of urban decline and hopelessness.

Italy. The artist Oliviero Rainaldi, who designed the hollow statue of John Paul II outside the Roman Terminal, is ready to make small alterations. This was reported earlier by Roman news agency, 'Ansa". Rainaldi is a member of the Papal Cultural Council. He wants to execute "minimal" improvements to the neck and head.

Link to source, kreuz.net...

Remember, one of the corrosive aims of Frankfurt School is to display ugly and demoralizing art in public spaces.