IT
October 7, 2026 – January 10, 2027
From Franciscan Preaching to the Monti di Pietà
Museo del Corso – Museum Complex, Palazzo Sciarra Colonna, Historical Archives
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, Fondazione Roma presents the exhibition “From Franciscan Preaching to the Monti di Pietà”, hosted at the Historical Archives of the Museo del Corso – Museum Complex, at Palazzo Sciarra Colonna, from October 7, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Curated by Professor Lorenzo Turchi, the exhibition traces the origins and spread of the Franciscan movement, exploring its contribution to the development of a civilization founded on the values of charity, solidarity, and human dignity.
Particular attention is devoted to the relationship between the preaching of the Friars Minor and the emergence of the Monti di Pietà, institutions established in 15th-century Italy to combat usury and promote forms of solidarity-based lending. Through historical and cultural documents and testimonies, the exhibition highlights the enduring spiritual and social legacy of Franciscanism and the role played by the friars in shaping new models of economic justice and social inclusion.
The exhibition showcases documents preserved in the archival collection of the Monte di Pietà of Rome, held by Fondazione Roma, alongside important loans from the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Historical Franciscan and Picene Library of Falconara Marittima, and other national cultural institutions.
The commemorative initiative is further enriched by an exhibition itinerary presented in the Permanent Collection galleries, featuring visual testimonies that tell the story of Saint Francis, his principal followers, and the spread of Franciscan spirituality from the Middle Ages to the modern era.