The Door of Good & Evil


This door was presented to Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) in honor of his eightieth I birthday on 2 September 1977. It was designed and cast in bronze by the artist Luciano Minguzzi. It develops the theme of the ancient conflict
between Good and Evil. 

The figures on the right leaf portray Good. a) Saint Augustine who fought the Manichean heresy during his life is
shown closing a heretic's mouth because truth must triumph and error must be repudiated; b) Good is symbolized by the two doves building a nest, because love is creative; c) the gift of Baptism is great, it purifies and makes us true children of God. One of the fruits of good is to be free of excess patriotrism and racial discrimination. A kneeling, weaponless soldier receives Communion from a Black cardinal; d) Vatican II tried to unite humanity in a single, big family. Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI are shown with the three cardinals who presided over the committees. e) Knowing that one is free of earthly bonds, like Lazarus who rose from the dead and was released from his death clothes, and having a good friend as the Archangel Raphael was a friend to Tobias, are all positive consequences for those who seek the Good.

The left leaf portrays Evil: a) Saints Vitalis and Agricola master and slave were crucified on the same cross because they were Christians b) the owl is the symbol of evil because it stalks the dove, symbol of Good; c) the martyrdom of Saint Andrew, Peter's brother, together with the ferocity of slavery, is one of the poisonous fruits of evil that brings dishonor upon the dignity of man who was created in the image of God; d) murder only comes from the evil one; man, the slave of evil tortures his brothers for religious or political reasons; e) Cain, who killed his brother; Abel, is both victim and slave of evil, like the thief who did not even convert when Christ died and a crow picks at his brain.