Vatican – Russia: Pope Francis Receives Artist Nikas Safronov

Artist Nikas Safronov, one of the leading figures in contemporary Russian art, was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican. During the meeting, Pope Francis blessed the Russian artist to hold exhibitions in the Vatican and Europe, expressing hope that “culture will unite peoples.” Pope Francis emphasized “the importance of world culture” and “the promotion of cultural values, which is one of the important elements in enhancing universal spirituality.”

For his part, Safronov presented the Pope with a portrait of the pontiff. The painting (pictured) depicting Francis’s first place of ministry, the Sanctuary of San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires, caught His Holiness’s special attention. It is worth noting that Safronov’s work was delivered to the International Space Station: from March to the end of September 2022 it was in space, having made together with the crew more than 3000 turns around the Earth. Now Safronov’s painting has taken a special place in the Holy Father’s collection.

This is Safronov’s first meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but the artist has already met with Pope John Paul II in the early 2000s.

“I am grateful to the Pope for the meeting, which took place despite all the busyness of the pontiff. We talked a lot about culture and how important it is to remember everything that humanity has created in the spiritual dimension,” Safronov said after the audience. “Art,” the artist also said, “is meant to unite minds and hearts, countries and peoples, and I always try to spread spirituality through my work.

I am incredibly happy to have been given such a high honor… Art is meant to unite minds and hearts, countries and peoples. I always try to spread spirituality through my work, I am a religious person. God is important to me, I do charity work,” the Russian artist emphasized in conclusion.

While Western Europe launched a policy of “erasing Russian culture” after the outbreak of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Vatican is doing much to ensure that culture unites peoples. In a special statement, the Holy See wrote that “the Vatican is a place where art has always been respected, recognizing its great importance in the world.” For example, in November 2024, the Vatican hosted a concert dedicated to the work of Dmitri Shostakovich and is currently hosting an exhibition of Orthodox icons. In autumn 2024, with the support of the Holy See, there was also a series of concerts of sacred music performed by the choir of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music.