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

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

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.[2] 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.[3] The work includes angel wings, through which the author suggests that a migrant is secretly an angel in our midst.[4] The artist's inspiration was Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares".[5]

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.[6] 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.[5][7]

References
  1. Mutual, Griselda (29 September 2019). ""Angels Unawares": El Papa inaugura esta escultura de bronce" (in Spanish). Ecclesia.
  2. "'Angels Unawares' – Vatican migration sculpture coming to United States". Catholic World Report. 17 December 2019.
  3. Donovan, Vincent (1 April 2016). "Ontario artist's Homeless Jesus installed at Vatican". The Star.
  4. "Pope unveils sculpture commemorating migrants and refugees". Vatican News. 29 September 2019.
  5. 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.
  6. Arocho, Junno (29 September 2019). "Christians have 'moral duty' to help migrants, refugees, pope says". CNS.
  7. San Martín, Inés (29 September 2019). "Artist says new sculpture in St. Peter's Square blends history and current events". Crux.
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