Arte Sacra: Historical Paths and Contemporary Perspectives
H17:00-18:30
H17:00-18:30
Sacred Art: Historical Paths and Contemporary Perspectives
The conference, organised by the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Holy See, aims to open a reflection on the meaning of religious imagery in the contemporary world, questioning its theological, cultural and social status in an era marked by profound transformations. In a context in which digital technologies, social media and artificial intelligence have become powerful tools for the production, manipulation and dissemination of images, the event proposes a critical dialogue between tradition and the present.
The meeting will also offer a space for ecumenical dialogue: voices from Catholic and Protestant traditions will present complementary perspectives on the function and interpretation of images within their respective religious cultures, exploring the role of sacred art as a site of mediation between the Christian heritage and contemporary sensibilities.
The reflection arises in connection with the exhibition by the Swiss artist Manuel Dürr, winner of an international competition promoted by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, who from Lent 2026 will present in the central nave of St Peter’s Basilica a cycle of fourteen paintings dedicated to the Stations of the Cross. The artist will be present at the event, offering an opportunity for direct dialogue about his work and artistic research.
Overall, the conference aims to provide an interdisciplinary reflection on the relationship between visual art, faith and society, enriched by the artist’s own testimony. The discussion will be introduced and moderated by Professor Francesca Nuzzolese.
Professor Isabella Bruckner will open the proceedings with a lecture entitled “The Church and Art since the Reformation: a Catholic Perspective through Selected Examples.” Starting from the conviction, characteristic of the Catholic tradition, that beauty constitutes a privileged path towards God, she will show how artistic expression has played a decisive role in mediating faith, both in ars sacra serving public worship and in religious art as a form of personal devotion. The talk will then outline several significant moments in this history, from the exuberance of the Baroque to the new alliances with the avant-garde in the context of the Second Vatican Council. The presentation will conclude with a reference to the Via Crucis as an artistic and spiritual journey oriented towards Easter.
Professor Ilenya Goss will address the theme “Image and Word: an Aesthetics of Essentiality in Protestantism,”exploring the complex relationship between the Reformation and the visual arts, from the iconoclasm of certain movements to a sober aesthetic centred on the dialectic between image and Word. The lecture will recall examples of Protestant artists and significant cases within the Italian context, also considering the architectural characteristics typical of contemporary places of worship.
Professor Oliver Krüger, in his lecture “AI, Politics and the Transformation of Religious Imagination,” will analyse the transition from the icon to the artificial image, showing how artificial intelligence and social media transform the religious imagination into algorithmic visual systems in which power, ideology and authority intersect. From the handcrafted symbol to the synthetic image, notions of authenticity, presence and transcendence are thus reshaped, redefining the relationship between belief, imagination and political order. Particular attention will also be given to the dynamics through which religious imagery is instrumentalised for political purposes.
The event may be photographed and/or video recorded for archival, educational, and related promotional purposes. By attending this event, you are giving your consent to be photographed and/or video recorded.
PROGRAMME
H17:00 Institutional greetings
H17:10 Introductive note
Moderator: Francesca Nuzzolese, Facoltà Valdese di Teologia
H17:20 La Chiesa e l’Arte dalla Riforma in poi. Uno sguardo cattolico in alcuni esempi
Isabella Bruckner, Pontificio Ateneo di Sant’Anselmo
H17:40 Immagine e parola: estetica dell’Essenziale nel Protestantesimo
Ilenya Goss, Università di Torino, Pastora Valdese di Mantova
H18:00 From Icon to artificial Image: AI, Politics and the Transformation of Religious Imagination
Oliver Krüger, Université de Fribourg
H18:20 Q&A
Curated by the moderator Francesca Nuzzolese
H18:30 Closing remarks
Manuel Dürr, Artist
Francesca Debora Nuzzolese (Moderator) is Professor of Practical Theology at the Waldensian Faculty of Theology (since 2023). She was Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and previously at Palmer Theological Seminary. Founder and director of BeTheLifeline, an organisation committed to combating human trafficking, she integrates theology, psychology, and social engagement. She earned her Th.D. at Columbia Theological Seminary, with international training in theology and pastoral counselling. Ordained as a Baptist minister, she is a pastoral counsellor, spiritual director, and trainer in psycho-spiritual fields. Her teaching areas include pastoral care, counselling, spirituality, trauma, human development, and sexuality. She is the author of essays and books on pastoral theology and sexual trafficking and lectures internationally. She is a member of academic associations such as the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Pastoral Theology, operating at the intersection of research, education, and advocacy.
Isabella Bruckner has been Professor of Thought and Forms of the Spiritual at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm since 2022. She earned her doctorate in Catholic Theology with distinction at the Katholische Privat-Universität Linz in 2022, with a dissertation on mysticism and prayer in Michel de Certeau. She graduated in Catholic Theology with summa cum laude from the University of Vienna, with a thesis on Ivan Illich. She has held academic positions at KU Linz and Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz as assistant and researcher. Since 2023, she is Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Theological Institute John Paul II for Marriage and Family Sciences. She teaches Fundamental Theology in the theological courses of Vienna and has served as ecumenical representative in the Diocese of Linz. Her research focuses on fundamental theology, mysticism, and spirituality. In 2022, she received the Karl Rahner Prize for her dissertation. From 2025, she is a Research Fellow at the University of Vienna and an associate member of the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.
Ilenya Goss is Pastor of the Waldensian Church and Lecturer in Protestant Spirituality at the San Bernardino Institute in Venice since 2021. Since 2024, she has been Professor of Bioethics at the University of Turin, where she previously taught the History of Medicine (2009–2016), and she has been a member of the Waldensian Bioethics Commission since 2012. She obtained a degree in Philosophy (1999) and in Medicine and Surgery (2009) at the University of Turin, becoming a licensed medical practitioner; she subsequently completed theological studies at the Waldensian Faculty of Theology in Rome (Bachelor 2013; Master 2016). In 2025, she earned a Second-Level Academic Diploma in Renaissance and Baroque Singing at the “L. Campiani” Conservatory in Mantua. Since 2024, she has been a doctoral student in Systematic Theology. Her research focuses on systematic theology, art, bioethics, vulnerability, and health as a common good, engaging in dialogue between medicine and theology.
Oliver Krüger has held the Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) since 2007. He earned his doctorate in Religious Studies at the University of Bonn in 2003 and completed his habilitation at the University of Heidelberg in 2011, after studying sociology, classical archaeology, and religious studies. He was Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Religion at Princeton University (2005–2007) and Research Fellow in the SFB “Ritual Dynamics” group in Heidelberg (2002–2005). Since 2023, he has been curator of the numismatic collection and senator at the University of Fribourg; he is a member of the Human-IST board and former president of the Swiss Society for Religious Studies (2011–2014). His research focuses on religion and media, contemporary rituality, post- and transhumanism, and imaginaries of artificial intelligence. He leads projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation on religion, ritual, and contemporary cultural policies.
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