Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,

Welcome. Tonight we celebrate The National Museum of Catholic Art and Library’s loan to the Embassy: the replica of Michelangelo’s [Buonarroti] Moses, at San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. This is a life-size bronze created by the Fonderia Storica Chiurazzi of Naples and loaned to the Museum. You may have noticed Moses at the main door of the Embassy, bidding you a warm benvenuti!

According to legend, Michelangelo threw his chisel at the statue, chipping Moses’s knee, and shouted “Why don’t you talk?”
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Christina Cox, the founder of this wonderful non-profit museum whose mission it is to promote and preserve Roman Catholic spiritual and religious art in all forms. I would like to recognize tonight’s honorees: Thomas Melady, senior diplomat in residence at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, former Ambassador to Burundi and the Vatican, who served as an American ambassador under three presidents; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President, who was honored by The Sons of Italy Foundation in 2003 with a “Humanitarian Award”; Edward Smith, President of Ullico Inc., board member of the “I Can Read Program”, an initiative dedicated to helping children with reading and learning disabilities. He is also a benefactor of the Therapy Center in Carterville, Illinois: and, last but not least, Gordon Root, Managing Director of Chiurazzi International, LDT.

Founded in New York in 1995, The National Museum of Catholic Art and Library represents a unique link between Italy and the United States thanks to its steadfast promotion of Roman Catholic Art through all mediums – visual, literature, music, cinema, photography or the performing arts. Moved to Washington in 2008, the Museum boasts a collection of ancient and contemporary works by artists from all over the world. It organizes exhibitions in collaboration with historical societies, embassies, DC institutions and the “Pope John Paul II Cultural Center” - whose architect, Piero Sartogo, by the by, is also the Embassy’s. Recent events include “Art and Faith” (2009), a tribute to God’s beauty created by 300 of the most talented international artists, or “Our God, His Angels and the Saints: 500 Years of Art”, an exhibition  which in 2012 will travel at home and abroad, with pieces Warhol and Rauschenberg.

In 1999, Pope John Paul II wrote, in “Beauty That Saves”: “May your art help to affirm that true beauty which, as a glimmer of the spirit of God, will transfigure matter, opening the human soul to the sense of the eternal.”
This is exactly the goal of The National Museum of Catholic Art and Library.   
   
Thank you.