Pope Francis
Pope Francis
Pope Francis, for 12 years the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, and proprietor in trust of the Vatican's great cultural, liturgical and built heritage, died on 21 April 2025, aged 88
Holy ground: why Persian carpets played an important symbolic role in the funeral of Pope Francis
For over 600 years carpets from Turkey and Iran have been used in Catholic ceremony and religious paintings by artists, including Andrea del Verrochio, to indicate a carefully defined, sacred space
Remembering Pope Francis, for 12 years head of the Catholic church and proprietor in trust of the Vatican's library and art collections
The Argentinian pontiff was a powerful progressive voice in world politics, the first Jesuit priest to be spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics and the first from the Americas or the southern hemisphere to hold the office
One of Pope’s favourite paintings is looking refreshed after restoration
Icon’s first major intervention since 1931 brings back original colours
Pope Francis and art, J.M.W. Turner’s 250th birthday, John Singer Sargent’s ‘Madame X’—podcast
Exploring the late pontiff’s deep connection to and impact on visual culture, plus why Turner’s work continues to resonate so strongly today, and the story of Sargent’s most famous painting
From the archive | ‘Because of him, even more people come to Rome’: director of the Vatican museums describes the crowd-pulling impact of Pope Francis
Antonio Paolucci discusses the role of the Vatican's museums as custodians of sacred and profane art after the city state makes its underground necropolis accessible during Francis's first year as spiritual leader of the world's catholics
Pope Francis and the Vatican Museums
From the archive | Soft power and contemporary art: Vatican Museums director on fulfilling Pope Francis's vision
Barbara Jatta speaks to us one year after her landmark appointment
From the archive | ‘Because of him, even more people come to Rome’: director of the Vatican museums describes the crowd-pulling impact of Pope Francis
Antonio Paolucci discusses the role of the Vatican's museums as custodians of sacred and profane art after the city state makes its underground necropolis accessible during Francis's first year as spiritual leader of the world's catholics
Vatican gives Apollo a hand—literally—ahead of Jubilee Year
Restoration of the marble is expected to be a draw for the year-long event, which will allow public access to works in the Pope’s private collection as well as exhibitions across the Holy See and Rome
Vatican tapestry of Leonardo's Last Supper gets extremely rare outing
How the Pope washed the feet of 13 priests during Holy Week is at the heart of a new exhibition outside Turin
The Big Review: Raphael at the Scuderie del Quirinale
The stimulating show in Rome tells the life story of one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance—but in reverse
Pope Francis and art
Pope Francis and art, J.M.W. Turner’s 250th birthday, John Singer Sargent’s ‘Madame X’—podcast
Exploring the late pontiff’s deep connection to and impact on visual culture, plus why Turner’s work continues to resonate so strongly today, and the story of Sargent’s most famous painting
Prison inmates and artist Marinella Senatore create light installation for Vatican Jubilee Year
The Holy See will launch a series of contemporary art projects at prisons next year
Pope drops in on the Venice Biennale and visits the Vatican pavilion
Supreme pontiff praises Corita Kent and Frida Kahlo at women’s prison
Vatican opens contemporary art gallery in 15th-century library
"Cultures become sick when they become self-referential," says Pope Francis at gallery launch
Ten essential Caravaggio paintings to see in Rome
Whether or not you can make it to the blockbuster exhibition on the artist now open at the Palazzo Barberini, here are a selection of his most captivating works to see in the city all year round
Pope Francis and cultural restitution
From the archive | Pope Francis returns Vatican Museums’ Parthenon marbles to Greece
The pope’s decision to give the Vatican’s three Parthenon marbles to the head of the Greek Orthodox Church comes amid mounting pressure on the British Museum to repatriate its marbles to Greece
After meeting with Pope Francis, Canada’s Justin Trudeau reiterates call for return of Indigenous artefacts from Vatican Museums
Last spring Pope Francis said “this is going on, with Canada”, but since there has been little movement on repatriation
Pope Francis addresses forced assimilation in Canadian tour amid calls for repatriation of Indigenous artefacts from Vatican Museums
Francis delivered a speech in Maskwacis as part of a week-long visit to apologise for the role of the Catholic church in the cultural genocide of Indigenous communities
Vatican returns Parthenon sculptures to Greece in 'historic event'
Restitution shows that a "road of dialogue and peace always exists", according to a representative of the Holy See
Pope Francis and devotional art
From the archive | Pope Francis, his crucifix and the Virgin Mary: miraculous or merely traditional?
Art history removes the numinous from art. At the Vatican’s Covid-19 blessing we saw it invoked again
One of Pope’s favourite paintings is looking refreshed after restoration
Icon’s first major intervention since 1931 brings back original colours
Pope Francis and climate change
Prison inmates and artist Marinella Senatore create light installation for Vatican Jubilee Year
The Holy See will launch a series of contemporary art projects at prisons next year
