Pope Pius XII: Panel Created by Vico Consorti for the 1950 Holy Door of St. Peter’s

Father Richard Kunst:

The creator of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s was Vico Consorti.  It was made in time to be used for the 1950 Holy Year. 

In the door are several bronze panels representing God’s mercy through biblical events, most significant being the crucifixion.  In particular was when Jesus showed mercy to the “good thief.”

 Consorti created the panel, and only afterwords did he realize his mistake in having Jesus facing the wrong way–to the left since the good thief was on his right. 

This is the original panel that was meant to be part of the Holy Door but was never used due to the error. 

Description

The item is the Crucifixion panel of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basillica.  It is a rectangular patinated bronze relief panel, approximately 11 1/2 X 7 1/2 feet.

The panel represents the first version of this subject created by Consorti for the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, solemnly inaugurated by Pope Pius XII on December 24,  1949.

Consorti followed this first version of the Crucifixion with the one currently visible in the Holy Door, in which the figure of Christ turns his head towards his right as depicted in the image below.

Vico Consorti: Correct Crucifixion Panel for the 1950 Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica

The 1950 Holy Door of St. Peter’s

Ludovico Consorti  was born on July 29, 1902. He was an Italian sculptor who built the bronze Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in 1950. In 1980, a year after his death, he received an award from the city of Grosseto for artistic merits.

Biography

Consorti was born in Semproniano, in southern Tuscany in 1902. From 1919 to 1926, he took a sculpturing course in the Art Institute of Siena.  Shortly after the end of World War One, Consorti met Guido Chigi-Saracini, when he decided to move to Siena, a city he knew well.

Between 1952 and 1956, Ludovico lived and worked in Colombia leaving important contributions to the cultural heritage of Bogotá and Zipaquira.

Holy Door

Consorti created the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica. The door was consecrated and opened on December 24, 1949. It was commissioned by Pope Pius XII for the upcoming 1950 Holy Year.

The door is only opened during the presence of the Pope during the Jubilee years.

Consorti died on  June 1, 1979.