Personal Notes
Artist Safet Zec met Pope Francis for the first time in 2014 when in the Chapel of the Passion of the Church of Jesus in Rome the altar shovel: 'Deposition of the Body of Christ', was inaugurated and blessed by the pontiff, commissioned to the artist to celebrate the bicentennial of the restoration of the Jesuit order. Let’s remember that instead of Zec’s composition, in this which is the main church of the Jesuit order, until the 17th century there was the Renaissance 'Pietà' by Scipione Pulzone, today exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The Vatican has therefore chosen Safet Zec to produce the new altar shovel, a painting work of large size and of artistic importance. The second occasion of meeting was in June 2023 when Pope Francis invited two hundred artists to the Sistine Chapel for an audience with them, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the collection of modern and contemporary art at the Vatican Museums. Among the artists present was Safet Zec. 'Shaking the hand of such an exceptional human being, in the incredible light of the Sistine Chapel, with its walls and ceiling painted by Michelangelo’s divine hand, is something I will remember for the rest of my life. Pope Francis couldn’t have chosen a better place than this magnificent place to meet the artists, sublimating the emotion of the moment. A great privilege to be invited by the Holy Father twice. It was him who invited, more than all his predecessors, to coexistence and sharing. He reminded the artists of the centuries-old relationship the Church had with them, giving life to incredible works of art. We will miss the Pope for his great views, understanding and open mentality.' Said Safet Zec.
