” “"The beauty of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mother of all men, attracts us, surprises us and fascinates us because it does not glitter with its own light but is the most transparent and bright reflection of the beauty of God, of His love. In Mary, the brightness of God’s love and truth shines brightly in a lofty, unique way". This was said by card. Paul Poupard, president of the Papal Council for Culture, as he introduced the work of the eleventh public session of the Papal Academies, held in the Vatican today. "Mary is the bright icon of the beauty which everyone should look to, with admiration and gratitude, to be thus encouraged and motivated to welcome and live God’s love, like her and with her", went on the cardinal, mentioning the words written by Benedict XVI in his first encyclical, "Deus caritas est": “The men of all times and from all parts of the world experience the gift of her goodness, experience the inexhaustible love that she pours out of the depth of her heart". Paul VI too, recalled Poupard, has "often illustrated the unique beauty and extraordinary intensity of the figure of Mary" (to be continued). ” “
