This episode of Morning Air offers a rich blend of faith and the arts as John Morales spoke with renowned Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz. Based in Canada, Schmalz is the artist behind some of the Church’s most moving public religious art, including his latest piece unveiled just before Easter in St. Peter’s Square.
The sculpture, titled Be Welcoming, draws directly from Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” At first glance, the bronze figure appears to be a tired traveler slumped on a bench. But as you walk around it, angel wings slowly reveal themselves in the folds of the cloak. Visitors can sit beside the figure, take its hand, and physically enter into the scripture. It’s an invitation to see Christ hidden in the poor, the outcast, and the overlooked. The sculpture is strategically placed near the Vatican’s clinic for the homeless, underscoring the Gospel call to serve Christ in those who suffer.
Timothy’s work is more than art. It’s a spiritual experience. John noted that Be Welcoming is more than just clever or symbolic; it’s theological. It offers a tactile meditation, something you can touch and absorb through your body and imagination. The art not only speaks about scripture but lets you step into it.
The conversation shifted to the election of Pope Leo XIV. Schmalz recalled locking himself in his studio the moment the announcement was made, overflowing with inspiration. He immediately began sculpting a bust of the new Holy Father, capturing his joy, humility, and warmth. He studied the lines of Pope Leo’s smile, the curve of his glasses, the relaxed composure of his expression. In the final sculpture, even the papal stole carries hidden meaning: depictions of St. Augustine and the Blessed Virgin are woven subtly into the folds—a nod to Pope Leo’s Augustinian roots and Marian devotion.
For Schmalz, sacred art isn’t simply decoration. It’s a form of evangelization—what he calls “advertisements for eternity.” While modern culture is flooded with digital images and fleeting ads, he believes bronze art, rooted in truth and beauty, leaves a lasting spiritual impression. His dream is to populate the world with monuments that lift the eyes and soul heavenward.
Among his current projects is a monument to G.K. Chesterton and a deeply personal pro-life sculpture that he hopes will find a permanent home in Austin, Texas. As with all his works, the goal is to stir hearts, provoke reflection, and plant the seeds of conversion.
Those interested in exploring more of his creations can visit timothypaulschmalz.com, where images and stories behind the sculptures invite viewers deeper into the mysteries of the faith.
Timothy Schmalz’s sculptures teach us to look again—to see the sacred in the suffering, the holy in the humble, and the presence of God in the most unexpected places.