Sacred Art

The Latest

Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome, guard the entrance to Ponte Sant’Angelo, welcoming pilgrims as they begin their journey toward St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Angels of Rome’s Ponte Sant’Angelo guide pilgrims through Christ’s passion

Apr 18, 2025

By Daniel Ibañez

The recently restored Ponte Sant’Angelo in Rome features 10 angels holding symbols of Christ’s passion, creating a profound spiritual journey... Read more

Pope Francis gazes up at the bronze statue of Mary atop the 39.4-foot column at Rome’s Spanish Steps, Dec. 8, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis marks Immaculate Conception in Rome with prayer, surprise art visit

Dec 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis marked the Immaculate Conception by visiting to two of Rome’s most important Marian sites, followed by an unexpected... Read more

The Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel was consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption: 5 things to know

Aug 15, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

The famous chapel derives its name from the man who consecrated it: Pope Sixtus IV, who served as the Roman... Read more

“I’m alway looking to do something that makes people say ‘Wow!’ and stop people in their tracks,” said artist Tim Schmalz in reflecting on his more than 30 years as a sculptor.

Catholic artist Tim Schmalz brings Scripture to life with sculpture

Aug 12, 2024

By Martin Barillas

Schmalz, 52, recently created a massive bronze crucifix that was installed outside St. John the Evangelist Church in downtown Indianapolis. Read more

Sacred art under construction at Centro Aletti.

Rupnik’s former studio: His art is being subjected to ‘cancel culture’

Aug 1, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The art institute founded by disgraced former Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik is saying Rupnik’s art is being subjected to “cancel... Read more

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

Crusader treasure unveiled: Medieval altar found in Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulcher

Jul 17, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The groundbreaking discovery sheds new light on Crusader history, medieval Christian art, and the enduring significance of one of Christianity’s... Read more

Kathleen Bordo Crombie stands next to an icon of St. Francis of Assisi, dedicated to her late husband, Robyn. The Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, Michigan, parishioner took up iconography after taking a class at the Sacred Art Institute of St. Edmund’s Retreat Center on Enders Island in Mystic, Connecticut, where she learned iconography is rooted in depicting the image of God.

Michigan iconographer roots work in prayer when depicting the divine

Jun 30, 2024

By Daniel Meloy

Kathleen Crombie, who has been writing icons since the early 2000s, says this ancient art form is a “door to... Read more

Martin Earle, a sacred artist who specializes in works for churches and the liturgy, told CNA that one should not mistake an artistic revival for a simple re-creation of the past.

‘The religion of the Incarnation’: Catholic artists reflect on the necessity of beauty

Mar 17, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Despite the artistic lack in recent decades, there appears now to be a growing resurgence in the Catholic artistic world. Read more

Workers at the baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Restoration of Bernini’s baldacchino begins in St. Peter’s Basilica

Feb 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Workers will scale the scaffolding surrounding the 92-feet-high canopy each day to meticulously clean the dust and grime that has... Read more

A triptych of Pentecost with Mary at the center in the Temple by Mattie Karr at Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.

Art as a leap of faith: Kansas artist quits job to paint murals to revitalize parish

Feb 22, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Mattie Karr took a leap of faith into full-time sacred art beginning with two 15-foot-tall triptychs of the descent of... Read more

Ukrainian refugee and artist Serhii Kolodka in his studio at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, where he is putting the finishing touches on two large icons destined for Holy Spirit Parish in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Ukraine iconographer and artist paints history while it’s still unfolding

Jul 22, 2023

By Nicholas Elbers / The B.C. Catholic

Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, has supported more than 1,000 refugees since the war... Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHOTOS: Discover 8 beautiful images of the Virgin Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica

May 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

From Michelangelo’s Pieta to a 12th-century painting, St. Peter’s Basilica contains priceless sacred art depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more

The renowned Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s famous sculpture "Salvator Mundi" (Savior of the World) is on display at Rome's airport.

A sculpture of Jesus at Rome’s airport is taking travelers by surprise

Apr 20, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The next time you are flying through Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport you can see Jesus at Terminal 1. Read more

The exhibition on "Spain and the Hispanic World" features an opulent vision of the Flight into Egypt by an unknown 18th-century Peruvian artist. The work is from the Hispanic Society of America.

Catholicism makes a comeback in London

Mar 4, 2023

By Lucien de Guise

It’s not often that you see Catholic culture featured at the city’s major museums. Read more

Benedict XVI’s coffin exits St. Peter’s Basilica beneath an image of Christ’s resurrection on the morning of his funeral Jan. 5, 2022

The story behind the image hanging at Benedict XVI’s funeral 

Jan 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The image, which hung in front of the central entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica, appears to be a copy of... Read more

"The Carrying of the Cross" by the artist Titian is one of the paintings featured in the new book "Jesus in Art and Literature."

Seeing with the eye of faith: encountering Jesus through great works of art

Dec 29, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

Pierre-Marie Dumont talks to CNA about his new book, “Jesus in Art and Literature.” Read more

A detail from Francisco de Zurbarán’s painting “The Immaculate Conception” (1628–1630)

Explore the Immaculate Conception through art in video series on faith and beauty

Dec 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

Benedictine College is kicking off a new video series today on art and faith with a video celebrating today’s solemnity... Read more

“The Mother of the Great Steppe" by Dosbol Kasymov.

Pope Francis blesses icon depicting Mary and Jesus as native Kazakhs

Sep 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis on Thursday blessed an icon depicting Mary and the Child Jesus as native Kazakhs, entrusting the Church in... Read more

Kazakh artist Dosbol Kasymov works on the icon “Mother of the Great Steppe” in advance of Pope Francis’ Sept. 13-15 trip to Kazakhstan.

Artist paints Kazakh Mary and Child for only Marian shrine in Kazakhstan

Sep 6, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Kazakh artist is creating possibly the first-ever painting of Mary and the Child Jesus as native Kazakhs; it will... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Diakonia of Beauty, a group dedicated to celebrating sacred art, on Feb. 17, 2022.

Pope Francis: 'The world needs beauty more than ever'

Feb 17, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope met with a French Catholic group dedicated to supporting artists and celebrating sacred art, architecture, poetry, and music. Read more

Latest news

The custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, anoints the statue of Jesus on the Stone of Anointing during the ceremony known as the “funeral procession” on Good Friday night 2024. According to the tradition and the Status Quo, on the evening of Good Friday — both Catholic and Orthodox — the rite of preparing Jesus’ body for burial is reenacted on this stone during the so-called “funeral procession.”

Amid ongoing war and blockades, Holy Land Christians insist on celebrating Easter

Joseph Lovskiy (left), the only Catholic in his Russion Orthodox family, with his wife (right) and their youngest son, a Russian Orthodox priest, and his family.

Catholic-Orthodox families prepare with joy to celebrate shared Easter date

Thousands of faithful bearing candles surround the illuminated Colosseum in Rome during the traditional Via Crucis ceremony on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, where Cardinal Reina presided over the solemn procession.

Rome’s ancient Colosseum hosts Way of the Cross with pope’s theme of renewal

Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome, guard the entrance to Ponte Sant’Angelo, welcoming pilgrims as they begin their journey toward St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Angels of Rome’s Ponte Sant’Angelo guide pilgrims through Christ’s passion

Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, gives the homily during a two-hour Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

On Good Friday, Vatican preacher says authentic intelligence is found in self-giving love

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (right) and his family attend the Vatican’s Liturgy for the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Vice President JD Vance attends Vatican Good Friday service

A damaged bus and vehicles after a Russian missile strike on Sumy, Ukraine, on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Palm Sunday bombing in Ukraine claims 34 victims, including 15 children

A Senákulo performance in Marinduque, Philippines.

Faith on the streets: Holy Week plays in the Philippines depict passion of Jesus Christ

Pope Francis celebrates the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, March 29, 2024.

What are the Good Friday Reproaches?

A Greek Orthodox monk pours oil into the lamps in front of the edicule of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains the venerated tomb. The three communities responsible for the Holy Sepulcher are the Greek Orthodox, the Latin Catholic, and the Armenian. Every movement and schedule inside the basilica is governed by the Status Quo.

PHOTOS: Archaeologists uncover early use of site beneath Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

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Apr 19
Blessed James Oldo
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