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
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. |