After Oderzo and Vittorio Veneto, the project conceived for the Jubilee of Hope by Milena d’Agostino and Nicola Panciera (curators together with Simone Martuscelli, Rita Piutti, and Giovanni Bresadola) continues its journey through the Marca region, stopping in the Diocese of Treviso.
Produced by Rivela Aps of Verona in collaboration with the Pope Luciani Giovanni Paolo I Foundation of Canale d’Agordo, and thanks to the contribution of the Treviso Chamber of Commerce – Belluno|Dolomiti, the exhibition will also offer the opportunity to see the scythe that Luciani used to go up into the mountains to prepare hay for the village cattle, a sign of the close connection between thought and action that was also reflected in his pontificate.
A journey through the words, images, and personal objects of John Paul I, following in the footsteps of Luciani the man, with stops at the places of his childhood, education, and human and spiritual growth, aimed at rediscovering the great relevance of a pontiff dear to all the “people” of Veneto, still alive in the memory of many, to be made known especially to the younger generations.
After its inauguration in the city of Belluno and stops in Oderzo and Vittorio Veneto, the traveling exhibition “Un Papa Inatteso. Beato Luciani: uno sguardo profetico sull’uomo di oggi” (An Unexpected Pope: Blessed Luciani, a Prophetic View of Modern Man) will be on display at the Episcopal Seminary in Vittorio Veneto (entrance on Piazza Giovanni Paolo I) from January 30 to February 8, 2026. (visiting hours: Monday–Friday 4:30–6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. / 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.).
The ribbon-cutting ceremony with civil and religious institutions will be held on January 30 at 5:00 p.m. in Space #31 Oratory of the Diocese of Treviso. From the following day, it will be possible to participate in visits accompanied by volunteers (for groups, reservations are required by emailing mostrapapaluciani.treviso@gmail.com).
Created in harmony with the Jubilee of Hope, the exhibition is organized by the Verona-based social promotion association Rivela, curated by Nicola Panciera, trainer and curator of educational exhibitions, and Milena d’Agostino, who curated the cataloguing of the volumes belonging to Albino Luciani at the Historical Archives of the Patriarchate of Venice (together with Simone Martuscelli).
In addition to the collaboration of the Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, Birthplace Museum Foundation in Canale d’Agordo, the project is supported by TH Resort (main sponsor), the Treviso-Belluno|Dolomites Chamber of Commerce, and the Scuola Grande di San Teodoro (VE), as well as the patronage of the dioceses and municipalities of the territories involved.
Anticipating in part the 50th anniversary of the death of Blessed Luciani (2028), the multimedia photographic exhibition consists of 40 photographic panels and 3 video stories, including infographics and Luciani’s personal belongings: from his papal vestments to Saturn and some books from the museum-birthplace named after him. And there is a ‘special presence’: the scythe with which a very young Albino, like other teenagers of his age, would leave home at two in the morning in summer to mow the high-altitude meadows and ensure the best sustenance for the community’s cows (his own family owned two). It was very hard work, but Luciani managed to make it enjoyable by putting several books in his basket, which he then read between breaks, waiting for the cut grass to dry and become hay. He became so skilled at using the scythe that he was considered the best in the village.
The thematic sections of the exhibition are entitled: ‘Election as Pope’; ‘The places of Luciani’; ‘The Christian adventure’; ‘The Pontificate’.
President Mario Pozza – The Chamber of Commerce strongly supports this project because it believes in the value of culture as a tool for civic growth, social cohesion, and regional development. This exhibition restores the authentic image of Albino Luciani to the community: not only the unexpected Pope, but a man of extraordinary humanity, intelligence, and sensitivity, capable of speaking to the present with simple and profound language. Through his notes, his words, and his thoughts, a very timely lesson emerges about hope, responsibility, and attention to others. In a complex historical context, initiatives such as this demonstrate how dialogue between faith, culture, and community can still offer guidance and confidence in the future.
Milena d’Agostino – The exhibition stems, so to speak, from a family history. In 2021, as an employee of the Patriarchate of Venice, I was entrusted with the task of cataloging the volumes that belonged to Luciani, preserved in the room dedicated to Blessed John Paul I in the Benedict XVI Diocesan Library in Venice, at the Patriarchal Seminary. Every day, among the volumes to be catalogued, I discovered little treasures: annotations and notes that Luciani had written in the pages of his books. Margins densely annotated with comments ranging from irony to profound reflection. Among these was a reference to Trilussa’s poem “Noè e er pollo” (Noah and the Chicken), one of those quotes you would certainly not expect from a religious figure, but which Luciani had understood to be appropriate for a catechesis on love, probably aimed at young married couples. Sharing this detail with my husband Nicola, the spark for the exhibition was born in both of us. It was as if Luciani were silently speaking to me through time in these discoveries. Not only with the intelligence that emerged from these notes, but also with his sensitivity and subtle irony. It was no longer a matter of cataloging volumes: I was experiencing the opportunity to meet and get to know a real man. And this encounter is precisely what we want to offer everyone with this project.
Nicola Panciera – Many people know how Luciani died, despite the mystery surrounding the event, but few know how he lived. This educational traveling exhibition therefore aims to transport visitors into the life of this man. Through his words, his actions, and his faith, visitors will discover the human side of this humble pastor who left an indelible mark on the Church and in the hearts of those who had the good fortune to know him or hear him speak. The exhibition is not intended to be a journey into the past, but an invitation to reflect on the present in the light of the words and faith of this great man. POPE UNEXPECTED, not because he was unknown, but because he was totally different from what could have been predicted. He himself did not expect to be elected, and his double name, a choice never made before in history, was unexpected for the people gathered in St. Peter’s Square and in front of screens around the world: a memory of those who had preceded him. The day after his election, those who listened to him saw “the whole man” Luciani and heard the unexpected and, in a certain sense, disruptive language of everyday life with which he addressed them before the Angelus. They heard the pope speak like a member of their own family. The way he conducted his general audiences was unexpected and moving, fully applying the paradigms he so strongly recommended for transmitting the Word, breaking down the most complex concepts, making them understandable, and touching people’s hearts.
Loris Serafini, director of the Foundation and Museum-Birthplace of Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I of Canale d’Agordo – The exhibition coincides perfectly with the Jubilee Year, the Year of Hope, one of the “stars” chosen in the episcopal motto of Blessed Albino Luciani (Hope is the smile of Christian life), whose words are even more vibrant in our world so full of threats, death, and war. His teaching, made known in various cities of the Veneto region and in the contemporary context, so difficult but also full of expectation, is therefore a consolation for those who visit the exhibition.
Prof. Giovanni Bresadola and Ermanno Benetti (Rivela) – What does the life of Albino Luciani have to say to us today? We started from these questions to create the itinerary. We delved into his daily life, even before his pontificate. And we found a simple man, but – surprisingly – a man of theology, a great intellectual, a man of culture, but above all a curious man who was interested in everything. A man who tried to communicate to everyone and in every way that the meaning of reality is Jesus. A man who therefore loved the Church very much. We are convinced that this figure, so dear to many people in our region, can contribute to the good of all, especially the younger generations. His example can inspire many young people who, in these complex times, can find in Pope Luciani a beacon along their journey.
