Evgenia Levin nuotr.
During the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius, a new immersive audiovisual exhibition, faces within the Face, opened at the Church Heritage Museum, inviting visitors to encounter the face of Christ in a fresh way through video art, sacred imagery, and contemporary storytelling.
The exhibition was initiated by art historian Dr. Adriana Acutis, aunt of Saint Carlo Acutis. According to Acutis, the project’s uniqueness lies in shifting attention away from the artists themselves and focusing instead on the subject portrayed in the works. Rather than comparing artistic styles or highlighting differences between images, the exhibition explores the common threads that unite centuries of depictions of Christ.
Bringing together representations of Jesus from across Christian history—from early Christian imagery to the Shroud of Turin, the Divine Mercy Image, and other renowned works of sacred art—the exhibition culminates in a striking visual experience.
As visitors move through the display, countless portrayals of Christ gradually merge into a single face. Acutis noted that the resulting image bears a remarkable resemblance to both the Shroud of Turin and the Divine Mercy image. She described the exhibition as more than an artistic experience, calling it a journey where art, faith, and personal searching come together.
Evgenia Levin nuotr.
Gintaras Grušas emphasized that the congress is not only about the theme of mercy itself but also about building relationships. He reflected on the importance of faces and human connection, describing Jesus as the face of God and the way through which people come to know Him. The Incarnation, he said, is central to humanity’s relationship with God and explains the enduring tradition of sacred images and icons.
He suggested that believers do not simply look at holy images; in a sense, those images also look back at them. When people learn to recognize the face of Jesus not only with their eyes but with their whole being, he said, they become capable of seeing His face in others as well.
Evgenia Levin nuotr.
faces within the Face grew out of research and contemplative initiatives dedicated to the Holy Face of Christ, supported by the Carlo Acutis Foundation. The exhibition opened as part of the World Congress on Mercy, which is being held in Lithuania for the first time from June 7–12. The gathering has brought more than 5,000 participants from over 50 countries to Vilnius and features more than 130 events, including conferences, prayer gatherings, concerts, and discussions.
The congress also highlights the legacy of Carlo Acutis, often called “God’s influencer,” who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Through his pioneering use of the internet to share the Gospel, he became one of the most influential young Catholic figures of the modern era.