On the occasion of the 61st International Art Exhibition – Venice Biennale 2026, the Holy See Pavilion was inaugurated on Saturday 9 May. The curator is Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers, in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the exhibition “The Ear is the Eye of the Soul”, inspired by the life and legacy of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, took the form of a sonic prayer inviting visitors to engage in the contemplative act of listening through the works of twenty-four internationally renowned artists.

The Pavilion’s two venues were transformed respectively into a seven-stage journey of contemplation for the soul, the Mystical Garden, and into a living archive, the Complex of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice.

For the duration of the Art Biennale:

• Mystical Garden can be visited by booking via this link
• Santa Maria Ausiliatrice Complex is open to the public at the following times: from 11am to 7pm in May–September and from 10am to 6pm in October and November (closed on Mondays except 1 June, 7 September and 16 November).