Pope Benedict XVI

Breathtaking Disrespect: Pope-Emeritus Benedict Portrayed in Condoms

May 7, 2013 By Kathy Schiffer 9 Comments

I’m speechless.

In a convergence of chutzpah and bad taste, Shorewood (WI) artist Niki Johnson has used 17,000 multi-colored condoms to create a larger-than-life portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. She has titled the creation “Eggs Benedict”.

Just like the fawning ministers in Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, modern-day art critics have reacted to the art piece with enthusiasm. Critics from the United States and around the world have called the work, which measures 80 x 60 x 12 inches and is encased in Plexiglass, a “commanding and thought-provoking work of serious art”.

Joseph Pabst, heir to the brewing company fortune who opened his home in 2010 for an LGBT film/video festival, has bid $20,000 for the work, which is currently on exhibit at Milwaukee’s Portrait Society Gallery. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will support local AIDS groups.

“Eggs Benedict” is Niki Johnson’s response to Pope Benedict’s statements during his 2009 trip to Africa, where he warned believers that the use of prophylactics contributes to spreading the disease of HIV/AIDS, rather than preventing it. Johnson, clearly ignorant of the Church’s teaching on the beauty of human sexuality, nonetheless felt qualified to address the topic–calling the Holy Father “irresponsible to public health.”

According to the Wisconsin Gazette:

In addition to falling within the artistic tradition of stimulating debate, “Eggs Benedict” also fits within Johnson’s personal artistic tradition. She’s often used public figures as subject matter in ironic ways, and she’s created numerous works using parallel techniques.

For instance, Johnson created a series of needlepoint works depicting women’s breasts. The process of creation involved juxtaposing a medium associated with traditional femininity and subject matter considered taboo by traditional women. In a similar spirit, she created a series of cross-stitched portraits of celebrities such as Paris Hilton.

Read more about it in the Wisconsin Gazette.

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Oh, by the way—In case you hadn’t noticed, I am really disgusted by all the Pope-and-condom stories popping up; I hope this, my second blog post on the topic, is the last report I ever offer on the topic.

Filed Under: Art, Pop Culture, Pope Benedict XVI 9 Comments

Pope-emeritus Benedict’s Birthday Portrait

April 16, 2013 By Kathy Schiffer 2 Comments

Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI turns 86 today—and at a party in his honor, the German Embassy to the Holy See is unveiling a new portrait of the former pontiff. The painting is the work of German artist Michael Triegel, nicknamed “Pabstmaler” or “Pope Painter”.

TRIEGEL’S EARLY CAREER

The award-winning Michael Triegel began his career in 1987 as a graphic artist; but in what he described as a “second birth” in a Roman church, he experienced an artistic awakening which refocused his career. He first tried his hand at painting landscapes, developing his skill on regular trips to Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In 2000, he gained fame after executing “Allegory of Good Government”, a mural in the historic town hall at Plochingen.

THE ARTIST’S NOTED ECCLESIASTICAL WORKS

In 2005-06, Triegel worked on a polyptych, a multi-panel painting on wood. Closed, the polyptych depicts the Last Judgment. Inside, the polyptych depicts (left to right) the Baptism of Christ, the Adoration of the Child, and the Last Supper.

In 2007, Triegel returned the Scriptural theme to create a work which showed Abraham and Isaac; inside were the Stoning of Stephen, the Conversion of St. Paul, and the Resurrection.

In 2009-10, he executed a ceiling painting at the Cathedral at Würzburg, and a portrait of Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

At the end of 2010 Triegel received one more ecclesiastical commission, to create an altarpiece for the Church of St. Augustine in Dettelbach (in the Diocese of Würzburg). The finished altarpiece, depicting scenes from the life of St. Augustine, was consecrated on the feast of St. Augustine, August 28, 2011.

THE PAPAL PORTRAITS

In 2010, Michael Triegel was commissioned to paint the first official portrait of Pope Benedict, which is now displayed in the Benedict XVI Institute in Regensburg. Sven Behrisch, writing in TIME magazine, said that with the Benedict paintings, Triegel had created his best work.

“…Triegel has portrayed not only the Pope, but he has portrayed the Catholic Church: bossy and doubtful, arrogant and frail. He has achieved what the Church did not always lately… He has shown himself human.”

On April 16, 2013, Triegel’s second papal portrait was unveiled on the occasion of Benedict’s 86^th birthday. The work is on permanent loan to the German Embassy to the Holy See.

Filed Under: Art, Pope Benedict XVI 2 Comments

We Are Brothers: Pope Francis, Pope-Emeritus Benedict Do Lunch

March 23, 2013 By Kathy Schiffer Leave a Comment

It’s been 600 years since such a meeting could take place.

Today at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Francis paid a visit to his predecessor, Pope-Emeritus Benedict. The two greeted one another warmly, prayed together in the chapel, then enjoyed a long private conversation before sharing lunch.

Benedict seemed frail, clutching his cane as he met his successor near the helicopter. Together, they walked to the Chapel for a brief prayer.

A report by Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, after the encounter showed how each had demonstrated his humility: Benedict XVI invited Pope Francis to take the pew reserved to the Holy Father, but Pope Francis responded, “We are brothers” and insisted that the two kneel together in prayer at the same pew.

Then the Pope and Pope-Emeritus met privately in the Library, talking quietly for about 45 minutes before heading to lunch with their priest-secretaries, Msgr. Georg Gänswein, who is Prefect of the Papal Household, and Msgr. Xuereb.

Of course, this was not their first conversation, although it was the first face-to-face meeting. Pope Francis has spoken to Benedict twice by telephone, and has repeatedly expressed his appreciation for Benedict’s wise counsel and his faithful service to the Church. And Pope Emeritus Benedict had expressed his unconditional reverence and obedience to his successor at his farewell meeting with the Cardinals on February 28.