The Western Sicily Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George held a guided visit on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, to the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily, in preparation for the Pilgrimage of 5–7 June 2026 to Assisi within the framework of the 2026 Franciscan Jubilee, marking 800 years since the death of Saint Francis, together with the newly established Constantinian Delegation of Umbria.
The Oratory of San Lorenzo is celebrated for its magnificent stucco decorations created by Master Giacomo Serpotta, a work that embodies the excellence of Sicilian Baroque. The refined details of the sculptures create an atmosphere of profound reverence and beauty, drawing visitors from all over. Serpotta’s mastery in working stucco transformed this sacred space into a masterpiece, where every corner tells a story of faith and art.
The visit was carefully organized by the Prince of Raffadali, Don Bernardo Tortorici, Knight of Justice of the Order, making possible a meaningful and engaging experience for all participants, who were able to admire the splendid stuccoes of the Oratory. These represent not only an important artistic expression, but also a cultural heritage to be preserved. The frescoes and stucco figures evoke scenes of religious life and charity, reflecting the values of humility and dedication that characterize the teaching of Saint Lawrence and Saint Francis of Assisi.
The Oratory of San Lorenzo
Master Giacomo Serpotta was an exceptional marble worker who decorated no fewer than thirty churches and oratories, becoming part of the magnificent Baroque of the seventeenth century that enriched the city of Palermo. Giacomo Serpotta was the foremost decorative artist of his century, and his architectural creations earned him the title of Magister Stuccator. His most notable works are in the oratories of Santa Cita, del Rosario, and San Lorenzo. He succeeded in handling inert matter and converting it into flesh, into gusts of wind, or into delicate silk.
Giacomo Serpotta was born in Palermo in the Kalsa district in 1656, the second son, after Giuseppe, of Gaspare Serpotta and Antonina Travaglia. His father Gaspare and his grandfather Giacomo senior had been active marble workers and sculptors. It was in his father’s workshop that Giuseppe and Giacomo completed their artistic apprenticeship.
The artist’s intuition and sensitivity emerge in all his works: the representation of the little angels that populate his oeuvre is wondrous for its incredible beauty. Serpotta’s putti are children like all others, who nevertheless flit among clouds and saints, always engaged in play. In his creations, the putti are indeed children who have fun. This representation of children is not an end in itself: each putto points us toward the inner depths of the human soul.
The Meeting
The Prince of Raffadali, Don Bernardo Tortorici, Knight of Justice, declared:
“On the occasion of the 1,800th anniversary of the birth of Saint Lawrence and the 800th anniversary of the return to the Father’s House of Saint Francis of Assisi, we wanted this meeting in order to recount the figures of the two Saints who find a home in the oratory dedicated to them, also in light of the imminent pilgrimage to Assisi. The speaker, Father Cosimo Scordato, starting from the scenes of the Saints’ lives, masterfully created by Giacomo Serpotta, recounted their shared vision that bound them together, the analogous path of a life understood as service to the least among us, through the renunciation of material wealth up to martyrdom in order to reach the glory of heaven. An intense account lasting an hour and a half, capable of capturing the attention of the many Knights and the numerous members of the public who attended, reaffirming the foundational values of ‘service’ through the example of two extraordinary lives, with an attentive audience eager to discover the stories of their own city.”
The Delegate for Western Sicily, Nob. Prof. Salvatore Bordonali, Knight Grand Cross of Justice, who led the participants, stated:
“The Oratory of San Lorenzo represents not only one of the artistic gems of our island, but also a place of profound spirituality. Visiting this space is an opportunity to renew our commitment to Franciscan values and to celebrate the beauty that has been given to us. It is essential that we continue to preserve and enhance our heritage, so that it may inspire future generations.”
The Organizer
Don Bernardo Tortorici
The Prince of Raffadali, Don Bernardo Tortorici, has been President and Founder since 2001 of the Association of Friends of Sicilian Museums, with which he manages seven monumental sites in Palermo.
He has collaborated with the regional administration to enhance the Serpotta itineraries, with the municipal administration for the realization of Kals’art, and with the University of Palermo for the creation of “Le Vie dei Tesori.”
He was President from 2002 to 2016 of the Sicily Section of the Italian Historic Houses Association, with which he organized twenty editions of the event “Cortili Aperti” in various cities of Sicily. He has promoted restorations, exhibitions, conferences, and publications on the theme of historic palaces and villas.
From 2008 to 2012 he served as Councillor in Salemi in the Sgarbi administration, with responsibility for museums, the historic center, landscape, tourism, and cultural heritage.
He presided over the Week of Cultures in the 2019 edition.
The Speaker
Father Cosimo Scordato
Father Cosimo Scordato is a theologian and priest from Palermo, known for his social commitment and for his studies on sacred art, particularly on Giacomo Serpotta. He has published books and articles on the artist and his works, such as those in the oratories of Palermo. Their connection is academic and artistic: Scordato analyzes the aesthetics and theology of Serpotta’s works, one of the greatest exponents of Sicilian Baroque.
He teaches Sacramental Theology and Theological Aesthetics, and has specialized in the art of Giacomo Serpotta and in Liberty (Art Nouveau) architecture. Through his studies and writings, he analyzes the profound spiritual and aesthetic dimension of Serpotta’s sculptures, interpreting his art as a “divine game.”
In his account he cites Vincenzo Consolo (1933–2012), a writer, journalist, and essayist who devoted attention to Serpotta, seeing in his art a profound synthesis and a “truth” expressed masterfully, as in an essay in the volume Giacomo Serpotta. The Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo. It is said that Consolo expressed himself thus: “How beautiful truth is.” This phrase (or a variation of it), uttered in front of the statue of Truth in the oratory, captures Consolo’s feeling before the communicative power and sincerity of Serpotta’s art, a beauty that resides in the representation of human and spiritual truth. Today it is used as a Sicilian saying to express irony and to underline an unexpected situation, a revelation, or a fact that is so obvious as to seem almost banal, as if to say, “Here is the truth—who would have thought it, but that’s just how it is.”
The Franciscan Jubilee Year
The 2026 Franciscan Jubilee
Pope Leo XIV established that from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027 the Franciscan Jubilee is to be celebrated. In this special Jubilee Year, which represents an ideal continuation of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, in commemoration of the eighth centenary of the passing of Saint Francis of Assisi, all Christian faithful are invited to follow the example of the Saint of Assisi, becoming models of holiness of life and tireless witnesses of peace. The Apostolic Penitentiary grants the plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to all who devoutly participate in this extraordinary Jubilee.
Group Photo Above
From left to right: the Delegate, Nob. Prof. Salvatore Bordonali, Knight Grand Cross of Justice; the Treasurer, Dr. Gastone Brizzi, Knight of Merit with Silver Star; Father Cosimo Scordato; the Prince of Raffadali, Don Bernardo Tortorici, Knight of Justice; and Prof. Alessandra Messina, Dame of Jure Sanguinis, art history enthusiast, former teacher at the Palermo Art High School.
