Meet the Pope's painter as she unveils Benedict XVI' s painting as pope emeritus

About this sermon

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ewtn/vatican Natalia Tsarkova, official portrait artist to the popes for more than 20 years, likes to work from real life. “I am so meticulous about details. I have to see and touch and feel everything,” she said. But for her latest painting, a portrait of Benedict XVI in his life as pope emeritus, some objects could not be brought back to her studio in the historic center of Rome. In 2006 and 2007, Tsarkova painted two other official Vatican portraits of Pope Benedict XVI. Now, she is portraying him in his “mission” as pope emeritus. “Because [his] life isn’t over,” the artist said at her home and studio close to Piazza Navona. “Here are books, manuscripts, that his guardian angel is holding and pointing out, ‘Holy Father, look at these books that you’ve written. There is a lot more to publish to give light to your writings,’” she indicated. Tsarkova unveiled the painting, which took four years to create, during a ceremony on Nov. 3 in Palazzo Cesi, a building close to the Vatican. The large artwork spans almost 6 by 6.5 feet. 👥 Follow us on our social networks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EWTNVatican/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EWTNVatican Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EWTNVatican