WASHINGTON 鈥� The Library of Congress has been given a rare Bible that has been given the added distinction of being blessed by Pope Francis.
Now you can get a look at the illuminated Bible, too.
The Apostles Edition of the Saint John鈥檚 Bible is a massive work that includes 160 illuminations in a volume that measures two feet tall and three feet wide when open. The work was a gift from Saint John鈥檚 Abbey and University and will be on display at the Library of Congress from Sept. 26 through Jan. 2. It will be on the Main Floor of the Great Hall at the Library of Congress.
Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress Mark Dimunation says the bible is strategically placed so visitors can get a sense of the sweep of history.
鈥淲e have it on display with 13th century hand written bibles and 15th century illuminated manuscripts so that visitors can see what the original art form looks like,鈥� Dimunation says.
Dimunation explains the latest addition to the collection will be housed on the same floor as the Gutenberg Bible, the first bible printed with movable type in Western Europe, and with the giant bible of Mainz 鈥渨hich we often refer to as the last great handwritten illuminated bible 鈥� done in Mainz, Germany in the same year that Gutenberg began to print.鈥�
Dimunation says there鈥檚 one misconception he wants to clear up about the pope鈥檚 connection to the St. John鈥檚 bible: he did not regift it, as was reported by some media outlets.
鈥淭he pope also has received an Apostle鈥檚 edition, but we have an entirely different copy,鈥� says Dimuniation.
鈥淚 know he鈥檚 a man of simplicity, but he did not regift his copy.鈥�
See photos of the bible on the
小萝莉影视’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
