The icon of the Patron Saints of Europe. A symbol of the CCEE Jubilee

The sculpture symbolising the 50th anniversary of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences was created by the Calabrian master goldsmith Michele Affidato. The work, depicting the patron saints of Europe, is a bas-relief in silver embossed entirely by hand and painted with fire enamels and gold leaf. The splendid effigy was given to Pope Francis at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration in the Vatican Basilica on Thursday 23 September, and to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the audience he granted to the CCEE Presidency for this jubilee. On Friday 24 September, on the occasion of the meeting at the Quirinale with the CCEE members, the sculpture was also donated to the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella. “It was a great joy to be able to create this work for the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences. As a believer and as an artist, I am very honoured that they asked me to create this gift for the Holy Father Francis, for the Pope Emeritus and for President Mattarella” stated goldsmith Affidato.