The reporter Danilo Mauro Malatesta was in Odesa, where the inhabitants signed a reproduction of one of his works that represents Christ with Mary in his arms. It is a symbol of the suffering of humanity. On the canvas are prayers and thanks to the Pope. For the author it is a sign of forgiveness for all humanity
Michele Raviart – Vatican City
Say enough to war through art. It is the inspiration of the reporter and artist Danilo Mauro Malatestawho brought a reproduction on canvas of one of his works, “Of Second Mercy,” to the streets of Odessa, where the citizens of the great Ukrainian port signed it with messages of peace and prayer. Malatesta, a long-time photojournalist, had been invited by the Greek-Catholic Exarch of Odessa, Mychajlo Bubnij, to report on the war and stayed in Ukraine for fifteen days this April. There, after a long journey from Rome through Moldavia, he was able to exhibit his work, the original of which is in the Oratorio de Santa Silvia, in the church of Sant’Andrea al Celio. The Malatesta Pietà – composed of nine photographic plates made with the ancient ambrotype technique – represents Christ holding Mary, representing all humanity supported by the Risen One. And this is the message that he wanted to bring to the Ukrainian people, martyred and now a symbol of all the wars in the world.
We have asked Danilo Mauro Malatesta how the idea of taking the work to Ukraine came about?
“For me it was really a necessity. I said to myself ‘I’m almost going to try it’. I will carry my message and my message of peace is this work that I have done. When I showed it to the bishop, he was mesmerized, truly struck, and he told me that it was a very beautiful thing. I then told him that I wanted to display it on Deribasivska Street, which is the safest in the city, and he took care of getting all the permits. Everything was quickly thought through and now the painting is kept in the church of St. Andrew in Odessa”.
During the time of the exhibition the people, the citizens of Odessa came and signed it…
It occurred to me to bring some yellow and blue markers and have everyone who wanted to sign do so. At one point there was no more space. It was signed by those who looked out there, at the beginning of this street, because you couldn’t go any further. When I got there, at 11:00, I was petrified. Many people had signed it. There is even a message from the exarch to the Pope that says: “Many thanks to the Holy Father Francis and to all the people of Romano”.
And instead the common people, the citizens, what have they written? There are many writings, clearly, in Ukrainian…
“It is written ‘God help us’, ‘Thank you Lord for this message’, ‘Glory to you Father’, ‘Strength Ukraine’, ‘Thank you Italians’. They are all messages written quickly, but above all there are signatures. So it was exciting. At night I was exhausted, but I felt very happy.”
