Pope makes landmark visit to Venice Biennale and proclaims that ‘the world needs artists’ [Video]

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit Venice’s contemporary art festival during a trip that saw him visit a female prison and rehabilitate the reputation of a pioneering American nun artist.The 87-year-old Pope traveled to the northeastern Italian city by helicopter on April 28, touching down at the prison on Giudecca Island in the Venetian lagoon which has been taken over by the Holy See for the eight-month-long biennale.Curated by Chiara Parisi and Bruno Racine, the pavilion — titled “Con i miei occhi” (which translates as “With my eyes”) — reflects the Pope’s concern for society’s outsiders, especially prisoners, and includes works from several female artists. Francis began his Venice trip by greeting each of the approximately 80 inmates in the prison courtyard, several of whom are involved in the exhibition.Poetry from some inmates has been placed on the walls of the prison, while others act in a short …