Among the many beautiful artworks in [Rome], one stands out for me in particular: the Pietà by Michelangelo in St. Peter’s. It is a stunning rendition of Mary cradling the crucified Christ in her arms. The power of the sculpture, intensified by the aura that it receives from being located in that church, cannot be communicated in words. It is a true gem. It is a reminder that Mary’s experience of Christ’s crucifixion would have been unique: She witnessed not only the death of her beloved savior but also of her beloved son. Her heartbroken love suffuses the work.
