<title>Invitation to the Exhibition HOPE IN BRNO</title> Invitation to the Exhibition HOPE IN BRNO

From next week, a retrospective exhibition of the visit of Benedict XVI to Brno will be installed in the hall of the Jiří Mahen Library in downtown Brno. The exhibition, organized by the Office of the Mayor of Brno, is designed by the architect of the mass area, Marek Štěpán. The exhibition presentation is primarily focused on visual perceptions.
Large photographs, images, and video sequences related to the person of Benedict XVI, the preparation and organization of the visit, the concept and architecture of the area, as well as the mass itself will be presented. Liturgical objects used during the mass, as well as items specifically made for this occasion, will also be included. However, the main theme of the exhibition is its preparation. The preparation was multi-layered, intense, unprecedented, and full of expectations. And, of course, it took place in Brno.
The exhibition period deliberately coincides with Lent - it starts before Ash Wednesday and ends after Easter - from February 10, 2010, to April 10, 2010. The exhibition will be inaugurated by the mayor of the statutory city of Brno, Roman Onderka, on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, at 4 p.m.

"Spe salvi facti sumus" - in hope we are saved … the beginning of the encyclical Spe salvi by Benedict XVI.

The visit of Benedict XVI left a noticeable mark in Brno. It lasted 204 minutes and yet is linked in many minds to the message of his visit - a look to the future with hope. Hope in today's times is overshadowed by daily commercial pressures and gradually fades away. Although subtly, it disappears in all areas of life. The message of hope that Benedict XVI brought to Brno was expressed by the symbol of the anchor at the mass area, imprinted in our hearts and naturally reflected in the title and symbol of the exhibition.

A brief overview of the time-consuming uniqueness of the preparation for the visit is given by the following sequence of dates:
December 24, 2008 - first mention of the Pope's arrival - Cardinal Vlk
February 2009 - start of preparations, appointment of coordinators, establishment of working groups at the Brno Bishopric
February 3, 2009 - appointment of main coordinators for the statutory city of Brno, Alice Zafirelisová
April 18, 2009 - Pastoral letter from the bishops of the Czech Republic about the expected papal visit
May 28, 2009 - agreement between the bishopric and Brno Airport regarding the lease of land
May 29, 2009 - signing of the contract with the general designer - Atelier Štěpán
May 30, 2009 - the Vatican officially confirms the visit
June 29, 2009 - publication of the concept of the mass area in Tuřany
July 3, 2009 - publication of the program for the Pope's visit
July 15, 2009 - appointment of the main coordinator for the Brno Bishopric, Petr Zelenka
July 16, 2009 - start of journalist accreditation
July 31, 2009 - contract signed with the general contractor Sun Drive s.r.o.
August 12, 2009 - MÚ Šlapanice issues a territorial consent for the construction of stages
September 1, 2009 - start of marketing campaigns by MMB and JmK informing the public about the Pope's visit
September 8, 2009 - September 16, 2009 - novena in preparation for the Pope's visit
September 26, 2009, 18:00 - September 27, 2009, 17:00 - the D1 highway was closed

Construction of the area:
September 1 - commencement of work - mulching the field and subsequent rolling of the soil
September 4 - preparation of access roads and other earthworks
September 10 - preparation of the Pope's stage structure, including a pyrotechnical inspection
September 12 - due to bad weather (strong winds), the raising of the canopy had to be postponed
September 13 - successful placement of the canopy on the supporting structure of four columns and completion of the stage roofing
September 14 - start of construction of tents for bishops, priests, doctors, police, firefighters, etc.
September 15 - realization of sectors for visitors
September 16 - realization of the semi-circular stands
September 18 - construction of stages for journalists
September 20 - installation of lighting, sound, and AV technology
September 23 - raising and securing the anchor, erecting the cross, construction of tents for the Pope and the President of the Czech Republic
September 24 - commencement of construction of the music stage, installation of a mensa and ambo, completion of the back wall of the papal stage, installation of a display case for the Tuřany Madonna, delivery of items for blessing, the Pope’s tent furnished
September 25 - trial operation of both stages
September 26 - installation of seats, tables for hosts, floral decorations
September 26, 21:00 - successful inspection of the entire area by the Pope's secretary, Cardinal Guido Marini
September 27 - handover of the area for use
September 28 - start of dismantling
October 4 - handover of the land in its original condition