On Thursday, 1 October 2026, the presentation of the catalogue "The Ear is the Eye of the Soul" took place, hosted by MACRO – Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Roma and moderated by its director, Cristiana Perrella.

Designed by Irma Boom and published by Allemandi, the volume tells the story of the Holy See Pavilion at the 2026 Art Biennale, from the sound installations to the botanical narratives of the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites, together with the contemporary Scriptorium of the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice Complex, conceived as a living archive and a space for reflection.

It gathers poems, essays, critical texts and images of the works by the artists Alexander Kluge, Bhanu Kapil, Brian Eno, Carminho, Caterina Barbieri, Devontè Hynes, FKA Twigs, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, Ilda David', Jim Jarmusch, Kali Malone, Kazu Makino, Laraaji, Meredith Monk, the Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of Saint Hildegard, Moor Mother, Otobong Nkanga, Patti Smith, Precious Okoyomon, Raúl Zurita, Soundwalk Collective, Suzanne Ciani, Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, MAIO Architects & DOGMA, and Terry Riley.

It is accompanied by contributions from Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education and Commissioner of the Pavilion; the curators Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers; Giovanni Bazoli of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group; José Teixeira of the DST Group; Sister Maura Zátonyi, O.S.B., Benedictine nun of the Abbey of Saint Hildegard; Soundwalk Collective, composed of the contemporary artist Stephan Crasneanscki and the producer Simone Merli; Father Ermanno Barucco, O.C.D., Discalced Carmelite; Honey Meconi, a specialist in the works of Saint Hildegard of Bingen; Cees Nooteboom, author and essayist; Swantje Grundler and Thomas Mayfried, collaborators on Alexander Kluge's Twelve Stations; Hildegard von Bingen; Alessandra Mammì, art historian and journalist; and Lila Azam Zanganeh, writer and essayist.