Third European Cathedrals Conference Highlights Sacred Art Conservation as a Tool for Re-Evangelization
Third European Cathedrals Conference Highlights Sacred Art Conservation as a Tool for Re-Evangelization
Valletta, Malta — 8–9 May 2024
On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th May 2025, The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation hosted the third edition of the European Cathedrals Conference in Valletta, Malta. Themed “Sacred Art Conservation as a Vehicle of Re-Evangelization”, this year’s conference highlighted the crucial role of sacred art and architecture conservation in preserving and revitalising the spiritual, theological, and cultural messages they carry.
The conference organised in collaboration with the Opera della Primaziale Pisana of Pisa, Italy, studied how the safeguarding of religious heritage can act as a bridge between tradition and contemporary society, enabling sacred spaces to continue inspiring faith and reflection in modern audiences.
Now in its third year, the conference welcomed keynote speakers from across Europe to explore how preserving sacred spaces helps keep their spiritual message alive in today’s world. Participants included researchers, students, practitioners, and professionals who engaged in meaningful dialogue and knowledge-sharing, reinforcing the synergy between faith-based communities and the conservation world.
The conference was opened by Mgr. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, President of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, who remarked that “Across the centuries sacred art and architecture have served as effective channels of evangelization because they expressed, communicated, and nourished the faith of Christian communities. This is, regrettably, no longer the case with contemporary society, because today’s generations have lost their affinity with the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of faith, with the tragic consequence that the visual spiritual message enshrined for two millennia in sacred art has gradually disappeared. The Church thus needs to explore a new syntax, a fresh grammar and an upgraded vocabulary of faith in order to engage today’s generations in understanding the spiritual message that sacred art has been transmitting for two millennia”.
While the H.G. Archbishop Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, in his address, he added “Restoration and conservation of sacred art are important not only for the preservation of aesthetic beauty and the safeguarding of humanity’s historical and cultural patrimony but also in bringing out more effectively the spiritual beauty creatively communicated by the artist. Conservation methods and techniques ensure that artistic beauty and its spiritual mediation continue to be enjoyed and experienced without the risk of losing them forever”.
The event successfully provided a platform for robust discussion, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflection on the evolving role of cathedrals in today’s society—especially as they continue to serve as both spiritual centres and cultural landmarks.
The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation remains committed to positioning the Co-Cathedral and its initiatives on the European cultural and academic map. Through conferences such as this, the Foundation fosters a shared European heritage network, advancing research, encouraging innovation, and deepening ties among cathedrals and their communities across the continent.
It-Tielet Konferenza dwar il-Katidrali Ewropej Tenfasizza l-Konservazzjoni tal-Arti Sagra bħala Għodda għall-Evanġelizzazzjoni mill-ġdid
Il-Ħamis 8 u l-Ġimgħa 9 ta’ Mejju 2025, Il-Fondazzjoni tal-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann ospitat it-tielet edizzjoni tal-Konferenza dwar il-Katidrali Ewropej fil-Belt Valletta, Malta. It-tema “Konservazzjoni tal-Arti Sagra bħala Vettura ta’ Ri-Evanġelizzazzjoni”, il-konferenza ta’ din is-sena enfasizzat ir-rwol kruċjali tal-konservazzjoni tal-arti sagra u tal-arkitettura fil-preservazzjoni u l-ħajja mill-ġdid tal-messaġġi spiritwali, teoloġiċi u kulturali li jġorru.
Il-konferenza organizzata b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Opera della Primaziale Pisana ta’ Pisa, l-Italja, studjat kif is-salvagwardja tal-wirt reliġjuż tista’ taġixxi bħala pont bejn it-tradizzjoni u s-soċjetà kontemporanja, li tippermetti li spazji sagri jkomplu jispiraw il-fidi u r-riflessjoni f’udjenzi moderni.
Issa fit-tielet sena tagħha, il-konferenza laqgħet kelliema ewlenin minn madwar l-Ewropa biex jesploraw kif il-preservazzjoni tal-ispazji sagri tgħin biex iżżomm il-messaġġ spiritwali tagħhom ħaj fid-dinja tal-lum. Il-parteċipanti kienu jinkludu riċerkaturi, studenti, prattikanti, u professjonisti li kienu involuti fi djalogu sinifikanti u qsim tal-għarfien, li jsaħħu s-sinerġija bejn il-komunitajiet ibbażati fuq il-fidi u d-dinja tal-konservazzjoni.
Il-konferenza nfetħet minn Mons. Prof Emmanuel Agius, President tal-Fondazzjoni tal-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann, li rrimarka li “Matul is-sekli l-arti u l-arkitettura sagra servew bħala kanali effettivi ta’ evanġelizzazzjoni għax esprimew, ikkomunikaw, u rawmu l-fidi tal-komunitajiet Insara. sfortunatament, dan m’għadux il-każ tas-soċjetà kontemporanja, minħabba li tilfu l-vokabularju tal-lum, l-affinità u l-fidi, bil-konsegwenza traġika li l-messaġġ spiritwali viżiv imnaqqax għal żewġ millenji fl-arti sagra bil-mod il-mod il-Knisja teħtieġ tesplora sintassi ġdida, grammatika ġdida u vokabularju ta’ fidi mtejjeb sabiex timpenja l-ġenerazzjonijiet tal-lum biex jifhmu l-messaġġ spiritwali li l-arti sagra ilha tittrasmetti għal żewġ millenji”.
Filwaqt li Arċisqof ta’ Malta, Mons Charles J. Scicluna, fl-indirizz tiegħu, żied jgħid “Ir-restawr u l-konservazzjoni tal-arti sagra huma importanti mhux biss għall-preservazzjoni tas-sbuħija estetika u s-salvagwardja tal-patrimonju storiku u kulturali tal-umanità iżda wkoll biex joħorġu b’mod aktar effettiv is-sbuħija spiritwali kkomunikata b’mod kreattiv mill-artist. minnhom għal dejjem”.
L-avveniment ipprovda b’suċċess pjattaforma għal diskussjoni b’saħħita, kollaborazzjoni interdixxiplinari, u riflessjoni dwar ir-rwol li qed jevolvu l-katidrali fis-soċjetà tal-lum—speċjalment peress li jkomplu jservu kemm bħala ċentri spiritwali kif ukoll bħala punti ta’ referenza kulturali.
Il-Fondazzjoni tal-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann tibqa’ impenjata li tpoġġi l-Konkatidral u l-inizjattivi tagħha fuq il-mappa kulturali u akkademika Ewropea. Permezz ta’ konferenzi bħal din, il-Fondazzjoni trawwem netwerk ta’ wirt Ewropew kondiviż, tavvanza r-riċerka, tinkoraġġixxi l-innovazzjoni, u tapprofondixxi r-rabtiet fost il-katidrali u l-komunitajiet tagħhom madwar il-kontinent.
