Angels Unawares

Angels Unawares is a bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz installed in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican since September 29, 2019, the 105th World Migrant and Refugee Day.

Angels Unawares
ArtistTimothy Schmalz
Year2019 (2019)
TypeSculpture
MediumBronze
SubjectGroup of migrants and refugees
Websiteangelsunawares.org

At its inauguration Pope Francis said he wanted the sculpture "to remind everyone of the evangelical challenge of hospitality".[1][2][3]

The six-meter-long sculpture depicts a group of migrants and refugees on a boat wearing clothes that show they originate from diverse cultures and historical moments. For example, there are a Jew fleeing Nazi Germany, a Syrian departing the Syrian civil war, and a Pole escaping the communist regime.[4] The sculptor of the work said that he "wanted to show the different moods and emotions involved in a migrant's journey". Previously, the artist had already made sculptures of a similar theme as Homeless Jesus.[5] The work includes angel wings, through which the author suggests that a migrant is secretly an angel in our midst.[6] The artist's inspiration was Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".[7]

It was the first time in 400 years, i.e. since Bernini, that a new sculpture was installed in St Peter's Square.[8]

The sculpture is located in St. Peter's Square

The idea for the sculpture originated with Cardinal Michael Czerny, a fellow Canadian and Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section, who commissioned it in 2016. Among the people represented on the ship are the Cardinal's parents, who immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia.[9] The sculpture was funded by a family of migrants from northern Italy, the Rudolph P. Bratty Family. On September 29, 2019, Pope Francis and four refugees from various parts of the world inaugurated the sculpture. A smaller reproduction, about a meter and a half high, will be permanently installed in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.[7][10]

A replica of the sculpture is being shown in the United States since 15 November 2020.[11]

References
  1. "World Day, Pope Francis: "Not just about migrants, it is about all those in existential peripheries"". Migrants & Refugees Section. 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  2. "Canadian man's sculpture of refugees unveiled by Pope Francis in Vatican City". Canada's National Observer. 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  3. "Pope Decries World's Indifference to Migrants, Refugees". Voice of America. September 29, 2019. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  4. "'Angels Unawares' – Vatican migration sculpture coming to United States". Catholic World Report. 17 December 2019.
  5. Donovan, Vincent (1 April 2016). "Ontario artist's Homeless Jesus installed at Vatican". The Star.
  6. "Pope unveils sculpture commemorating migrants and refugees". Vatican News. 29 September 2019.
  7. Williams, Megan (29 September 2019). "Canadian artist's bronze statue depicting plight of refugees in boat unveiled at St. Peter's Square in Rome". CBC.
  8. O'Connel, Gerard (2019-09-29). "Pope Francis reminds Christians that migrants and refugees should be welcomed around the world". America Magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  9. Arocho, Junno (29 September 2019). "Christians have 'moral duty' to help migrants, refugees, pope says". CNS.
  10. San Martín, Inés (29 September 2019). "Artist says new sculpture in St. Peter's Square blends history and current events". Crux.
  11. Bordoni, Linda (2020-11-15). ""Angels Unawares" in America: a clarion call to view migration from a Christian perspective". Vatican News. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
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