Oscar-winning actor Robert Benigni read from Dante's Divine Comedy in the Italian Senate upper house of parliament on Monday to mark the 750th anniversary of the poet's birth.
Benigni received a standing ovation after his reading from the XXIII canto of Dante's Paradiso, which was attended by Italy's head of state Sergio Mattarella and broadcast live to the nation by public RAI radio.
The Divine Comedy, begun in 1308 and completed 1320 is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.
"The Divine Comedy is a miracle, a work whose beauty takes your breath away," said Benigni.
In a message, Pope Francis praised the medieval poet as a "prophet of hope" and said Dante's works heralded the "possibility of redemption and liberation" for humanity.
Hundreds of events are being staged throughout Italy and by Italian Cultural Institutes in foreign cities mark the poet's birthday, including exhibits, concerts, publications, new translations, performances, conferences and readings,
Events will continue for the next six years until the 700th anniversary of Dante's death, to be marked in 2021, Senate speaker Pietro Grasso announced.
