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Letter to Artists
This is Pope John Paul II's Easter 1999 letter to church artists, musicians, and architects. Here he invites all artists to use their creativity to serve both the church and the world. In these pages you will find a discussion of the vocation of artists, an explorartion of how art and the Word intersect, a brief history of the use of art in worship, and more. For study, for inspiration and for reflection, this book belongs in the library of all building or renovation committee members, parish environment and art committee members, liturgy committee members, musicians, performing arts groups and anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the profound relationship between art and worship.
22 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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About the author
Pope John Paul II
1,047 books637 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 22, 2024
Wow. As a creative type, this letter spoke to my soul in a profound way. I have the following paragraph highlighted (with a written exclamation point)
“Every genuine artistic intuition goes beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality's surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery. The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardour of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendour which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit.”
also, happy feast day! St. John Paul II, pray for us.
“Every genuine artistic intuition goes beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality's surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery. The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardour of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendour which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit.”
also, happy feast day! St. John Paul II, pray for us.
June 28, 2023
this was so beautiful!!! a letter I shall return to time and time again <3
wondrous excerpts, phrasings --
“A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you” (what a gorgeous start!!! phrasing of this already has me speechless)
“That is why it seems to me that there are no better words than the text of Genesis with which to begin my Letter to you, to whom I feel closely linked by experiences reaching far back in time and which have indelibly marked my life” (why is this all so beautiful)
“In producing a work, artists express themselves to the point where their work becomes a unique disclosure of their own being, of what they are and of how they are what they are. And there are endless examples of this in human history. In shaping a masterpiece, the artist not only summons his work into being, but also in some way reveals his own personality by means of it”
“The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardour of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendour which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit” (glimmer!!!)
“a momentary glimpse of the abyss of light which has its original wellspring in God”
“Artists are constantly in search of the hidden meaning of things, and their torment is to succeed in expressing the world of the ineffable. How then can we fail to see what a great source of inspiration is offered by that kind of homeland of the soul that is religion? Is it not perhaps within the realm of religion that the most vital personal questions are posed, and answers both concrete and definitive are sought?”
“Human beings, in a certain sense, are unknown to themselves. Jesus Christ not only reveals God, but 'fully reveals man to man.'"
“It is right then to speak, even if only analogically, of 'moments of grace', because the human being is able to experience in some way the Absolute who is utterly beyond”
**“Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. It is an invitation to savour life and to dream of the future. That is why the beauty of created things can never fully satisfy. It stirs that hidden nostalgia for God which a lover of beauty like Saint Augustine could express in incomparable terms: ‘Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you!’” (can't get over "hidden nostalgia for God" -- it is so beyond beautiful)
**“Artists of the world, may your many different paths all lead to that infinite Ocean of beauty where wonder becomes awe, exhilaration, unspeakable joy”
wondrous excerpts, phrasings --
“A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you” (what a gorgeous start!!! phrasing of this already has me speechless)
“That is why it seems to me that there are no better words than the text of Genesis with which to begin my Letter to you, to whom I feel closely linked by experiences reaching far back in time and which have indelibly marked my life” (why is this all so beautiful)
“In producing a work, artists express themselves to the point where their work becomes a unique disclosure of their own being, of what they are and of how they are what they are. And there are endless examples of this in human history. In shaping a masterpiece, the artist not only summons his work into being, but also in some way reveals his own personality by means of it”
“The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardour of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendour which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit” (glimmer!!!)
“a momentary glimpse of the abyss of light which has its original wellspring in God”
“Artists are constantly in search of the hidden meaning of things, and their torment is to succeed in expressing the world of the ineffable. How then can we fail to see what a great source of inspiration is offered by that kind of homeland of the soul that is religion? Is it not perhaps within the realm of religion that the most vital personal questions are posed, and answers both concrete and definitive are sought?”
“Human beings, in a certain sense, are unknown to themselves. Jesus Christ not only reveals God, but 'fully reveals man to man.'"
“It is right then to speak, even if only analogically, of 'moments of grace', because the human being is able to experience in some way the Absolute who is utterly beyond”
**“Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. It is an invitation to savour life and to dream of the future. That is why the beauty of created things can never fully satisfy. It stirs that hidden nostalgia for God which a lover of beauty like Saint Augustine could express in incomparable terms: ‘Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you!’” (can't get over "hidden nostalgia for God" -- it is so beyond beautiful)
**“Artists of the world, may your many different paths all lead to that infinite Ocean of beauty where wonder becomes awe, exhilaration, unspeakable joy”
February 9, 2021
Kratučká rozprava pápeža Jána Pavla II. je krásna úvaha nad poslaním umelcov a spojením umenia a náboženstva, respektíve umenie a kresťanstva. Vyzdvihuje rolu umelca v spoločnosti, ale zároveň určuje jej pravé miesto. Úlohou umelca je podľa neho pravdivo tvoriť krásu a participovať na spoločnom dobre:
„Spoločnosť potrebuje vskutku umelcov práve tak, ako potrebuje vedcov, technikov, robotníkov, odborníkov, svedkov viery, učiteľov, otcov a matky. Pomocou veľmi vznešenej formy umenia, ktorá sa nazýva "umením výchovy" - majú tieto povolania zabezpečovať rast osoby a rozvoj spoločnosti.“
V súvislosti so spojením náboženstva a umenia hovorí o neschopnosti umelca vyjadriť rukami to, čo sa zrodilo v jeho vnútri. Pretože tá idea je síce v človeku, ale je taktiež aj mimo neho a umelec má ten dar, že ju mohol zazrieť a pokúsiť sa sprostredkovať ju svetu. Zdrojom tejto idey, zdrojom krásy je samozrejme Boh.
„Jedna zo skúseností, ktorú zdieľajú všetci umelci, je skúsenosť o neprekonateľnom rozdiele medzi akokoľvek vydareným dielom ich rúk a medzi podmanivou dokonalosťou krásy, ktorú vnímajú v zápale tvorivého okamihu...“
Popisuje krátke dejiny umenia, dejiny vzťahu umenia a kresťanstva. Čo od tohto vzťahu očakáva Cirkev?
„Cirkev očakáva novú "epifániu" krásy pre našu dobu a primerané odpovede na záležitosti kresťanského spoločenstva“
Pretože ako to konštatoval druhý vatikánsky koncil:
„Tento svet, v ktorom žijeme, potrebuje krásu, aby neprepadol zúfalstvu. Krása, tak ako pravda, vkladá do srdca človeka radosť a je drahocenným plodom, ktorý odoláva vplyvu času, spája generácie a umožňuje im v obdive vstupovať do vzájomnej komunikácie.“
Hovorí tiež, že Cirkev potrebuje umelcov rovnako ako umelci potrebujú Cirkev. Uvedomuje si, že je to provokatívne tvrdenie, ale hovorí, že z tejto spolupráce môžu umelci len a jedine čerpať, náboženstvo pre umelca môže byť "prameňom inšpirácie".
A tak Ján Pavol II. apeluje na umelcov a pozýva k znovuobjaveniu hĺbky duchovnej a náboženskej dimenzie, ako bola ona charakteristickou vo všetkých dobách pre umenie. Každá umelecká inšpirácia obsahuje niečo z vanutia Ducha Svätého. Na záver krásne hovorí, že:
„Krása je šifrou tajomstva a poukazom na večné. Ona je pozvaním vychutnávať život a snívať o budúcnosti. Preto nemôže uspokojiť krása stvorených vecí a vzbudzuje tú tajomnú túžbu po Bohu, ktorú dokázal neporovnateľnými slovami vyjadriť taký vášnivý milovník krásy, akým bol sv. Augustín: "Neskoro som ťa miloval, Krása večne stará a večne nová, neskoro som ťa miloval".“
„Spoločnosť potrebuje vskutku umelcov práve tak, ako potrebuje vedcov, technikov, robotníkov, odborníkov, svedkov viery, učiteľov, otcov a matky. Pomocou veľmi vznešenej formy umenia, ktorá sa nazýva "umením výchovy" - majú tieto povolania zabezpečovať rast osoby a rozvoj spoločnosti.“
V súvislosti so spojením náboženstva a umenia hovorí o neschopnosti umelca vyjadriť rukami to, čo sa zrodilo v jeho vnútri. Pretože tá idea je síce v človeku, ale je taktiež aj mimo neho a umelec má ten dar, že ju mohol zazrieť a pokúsiť sa sprostredkovať ju svetu. Zdrojom tejto idey, zdrojom krásy je samozrejme Boh.
„Jedna zo skúseností, ktorú zdieľajú všetci umelci, je skúsenosť o neprekonateľnom rozdiele medzi akokoľvek vydareným dielom ich rúk a medzi podmanivou dokonalosťou krásy, ktorú vnímajú v zápale tvorivého okamihu...“
Popisuje krátke dejiny umenia, dejiny vzťahu umenia a kresťanstva. Čo od tohto vzťahu očakáva Cirkev?
„Cirkev očakáva novú "epifániu" krásy pre našu dobu a primerané odpovede na záležitosti kresťanského spoločenstva“
Pretože ako to konštatoval druhý vatikánsky koncil:
„Tento svet, v ktorom žijeme, potrebuje krásu, aby neprepadol zúfalstvu. Krása, tak ako pravda, vkladá do srdca človeka radosť a je drahocenným plodom, ktorý odoláva vplyvu času, spája generácie a umožňuje im v obdive vstupovať do vzájomnej komunikácie.“
Hovorí tiež, že Cirkev potrebuje umelcov rovnako ako umelci potrebujú Cirkev. Uvedomuje si, že je to provokatívne tvrdenie, ale hovorí, že z tejto spolupráce môžu umelci len a jedine čerpať, náboženstvo pre umelca môže byť "prameňom inšpirácie".
A tak Ján Pavol II. apeluje na umelcov a pozýva k znovuobjaveniu hĺbky duchovnej a náboženskej dimenzie, ako bola ona charakteristickou vo všetkých dobách pre umenie. Každá umelecká inšpirácia obsahuje niečo z vanutia Ducha Svätého. Na záver krásne hovorí, že:
„Krása je šifrou tajomstva a poukazom na večné. Ona je pozvaním vychutnávať život a snívať o budúcnosti. Preto nemôže uspokojiť krása stvorených vecí a vzbudzuje tú tajomnú túžbu po Bohu, ktorú dokázal neporovnateľnými slovami vyjadriť taký vášnivý milovník krásy, akým bol sv. Augustín: "Neskoro som ťa miloval, Krása večne stará a večne nová, neskoro som ťa miloval".“
November 19, 2020
Growing up in a generation of artists who post art online, I've seen a lot of feels-art (art drawn for instant gratification). Much like fast food, it's more about the experience than the substance.
People like feels-pictures solely because of WHAT they portray, often for immature reasons. (Such as fan art of characters in dramatic or romantic situations, usually focusing heavily on angst, emotions, or lust). Rarely is the bigger picture produced which makes us care specifically about a scene without relying on superficial preestablished passions or existing lore, nor is the execution of the art always particularly appealing to anyone without requisite knowledge of the subject.
Pushed away and hidden behind the word "subjectivity" lies a distinction between art made to be beautiful for its own sake and art made to satisfy a specific inclination which may or may not be self aware or respectable. It's not always bad to make the last kind, but realizing the difference is valuable. It's also valuable to examine where our inclinations come from and why. (Lots of times the inclination can be honorable).
I do believe a glimpse of God can be seen in anything we legitimately strive to make beautiful or good. Unfortunately we're always distorting things with pretentions, ulterior motives, and self indulgence. As a cartoonist, I think a sincere, hilarious cartoon is one of the most beautiful things on earth, and even this is more rare than you might expect.
People like feels-pictures solely because of WHAT they portray, often for immature reasons. (Such as fan art of characters in dramatic or romantic situations, usually focusing heavily on angst, emotions, or lust). Rarely is the bigger picture produced which makes us care specifically about a scene without relying on superficial preestablished passions or existing lore, nor is the execution of the art always particularly appealing to anyone without requisite knowledge of the subject.
Pushed away and hidden behind the word "subjectivity" lies a distinction between art made to be beautiful for its own sake and art made to satisfy a specific inclination which may or may not be self aware or respectable. It's not always bad to make the last kind, but realizing the difference is valuable. It's also valuable to examine where our inclinations come from and why. (Lots of times the inclination can be honorable).
I do believe a glimpse of God can be seen in anything we legitimately strive to make beautiful or good. Unfortunately we're always distorting things with pretentions, ulterior motives, and self indulgence. As a cartoonist, I think a sincere, hilarious cartoon is one of the most beautiful things on earth, and even this is more rare than you might expect.
May 20, 2022
Beautiful!
June 6, 2021
<3 <3 <3 I love JPII very much.
There was a lot in this letter that I loved, especially when he talks about how art necessarily reveals the artist, and how the artist can never fully capture his or her initial vision.
Short review, because I'm off to go write. :)
4.5 stars! None of my usual rules apply to JPII. Of course.
There was a lot in this letter that I loved, especially when he talks about how art necessarily reveals the artist, and how the artist can never fully capture his or her initial vision.
Short review, because I'm off to go write. :)
4.5 stars! None of my usual rules apply to JPII. Of course.
April 21, 2025
Oh, Papa. <3
"Faced with the sacredness of life and of the human person, and before the marvels of the universe, wonder is the only appropriate attitude."
I love how enthusiastic he is about the Third Millennium, how heartily he embraces the good of the created world, how he clearly knows his Dante, and how he links the human need for art to the human need for God.
I LOVE JPII.
If you'll excuse me, I need to go create something now. (Or, rather, do something to make my /life/ a masterpiece so that I'll be better equipped to /write/ a masterpiece. I think I'll go take a walk in the sunshiny evening.)
"Faced with the sacredness of life and of the human person, and before the marvels of the universe, wonder is the only appropriate attitude."
I love how enthusiastic he is about the Third Millennium, how heartily he embraces the good of the created world, how he clearly knows his Dante, and how he links the human need for art to the human need for God.
I LOVE JPII.
If you'll excuse me, I need to go create something now. (Or, rather, do something to make my /life/ a masterpiece so that I'll be better equipped to /write/ a masterpiece. I think I'll go take a walk in the sunshiny evening.)
January 4, 2026
"With loving regard, the divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power."
"Thanks to this enthusiasm, humanity, every time it loses its way, will be able to lift itself up and set out again on the right path. In this sense it has been said with profound insight that “beauty will save the world”."
Letter to Artists remains as both a poignant and hopeful reminder of the importance of art and artists in the world. As the modern world continues to be beguiled by artificial intelligence and indifference, Pope Saint John Paul's call to artists to hone, express, and share their creative talents challenges readers to reflect on the beauty and splendour found in human passion and creation. It reminds us that art made earnestly wields great power and is never a frivolous endeavour.
"Thanks to this enthusiasm, humanity, every time it loses its way, will be able to lift itself up and set out again on the right path. In this sense it has been said with profound insight that “beauty will save the world”."
Letter to Artists remains as both a poignant and hopeful reminder of the importance of art and artists in the world. As the modern world continues to be beguiled by artificial intelligence and indifference, Pope Saint John Paul's call to artists to hone, express, and share their creative talents challenges readers to reflect on the beauty and splendour found in human passion and creation. It reminds us that art made earnestly wields great power and is never a frivolous endeavour.
April 19, 2020
“I wish to remind each of you that, beyond functional considerations, the close alliance that has always existed between the Gospel and art means that you are invited to use your creative intuition to enter into the heart of the mystery of the Incarnate God and at the same time into the mystery of man.”
Thanks JPII !!
Thanks JPII !!
November 8, 2024
WOW THIS IS PHENOMENAL. Where was this while I was studying creativity? Would use as a textbook for discussion during a retreat or a classical class in humanities.
June 10, 2025
Short and profound. It conveys the catholic spititual view on art brilliantly and also, it’s a strong call for beauty in a ugly world. I miss a reference to the baroque period but that’s just a personal preference.
For a catholic, art is a mystical experience, a bridge to connect believers with God, a sacrament on itself and the best way for teaching the gospel.
A must read!
For a catholic, art is a mystical experience, a bridge to connect believers with God, a sacrament on itself and the best way for teaching the gospel.
A must read!
June 18, 2013
At Tuscany Press we recommend to authors who wish to write great Catholic fiction begin by reading John Paul II’s Letter to Artists. John Paul’s mission to evangelize the world for Christ Jesus included artists and writers. He understood the artist and the writer because he himself was a playwright: The Jeweler’s Shop.
To quote the letter “None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.” John Paul II. Tuscany recommends this as must reading for writers.
To quote the letter “None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of sounds and words, colours and shapes, you have admired the work of your inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God, the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.” John Paul II. Tuscany recommends this as must reading for writers.
July 25, 2017
What an incredible letter. I think the contents really do apply to such a vast majority of people! I love the distinction made between artists and all else, but also the assurance that everyone is responsible for "crafting their own lives." I think what stood out most to me is the assurance of what a responsibility, even obligation that artists have. Not only is it a nice thing to use your gift to create and share art, but you are doing the world a serious disservice if you withhold your gift. I definitely recommend this to any writer, painter, architect . . . any artist!
December 29, 2022
Though not a book per se, I’ve been reading this gradually before bed and write this review so I forget none of the details. Being a creative is a wearying profession, and so many (myself included) wait for that “inspiration” to create. But it’s always there, and as creators, we share a special bond with the Creator himself.
It touches upon all types of artists, not only visual (the most obvious) but also nods to others such as music, writing, and architecture.
With loving regard, the divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power.
It is in living and acting that man establishes his relationship with being, with the truth and with the good. The artist has a special relationship to beauty. In a very true sense it can be said that beauty is the vocation bestowed on him by the Creator in the gift of “artistic talent”.
because of its central doctrine of the Incarnation of the Word of God, Christianity offers artists a horizon especially rich in inspiration. What an impoverishment it would be for art to abandon the inexhaustible mine of the Gospel!
It touches upon all types of artists, not only visual (the most obvious) but also nods to others such as music, writing, and architecture.
October 15, 2020
At a time where I was struggling to bring together my identities as Christian and artist, the wisdom of St. John Paul II and the Church brought me much peace. I think I've remembered what may be one of the truer purposes of art, which is to be an approachable sliver of beauty reaching towards the ineffable beauty which is God Himself. I feel confident now that I am supposed to continue down the path of an artist, to bring - one by one - those slivers of beauty to a world that increasingly needs them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
This is a great and inspiring letter to artists about their vocation to create beautiful works, inspired by God, to bring about a greater love for truth in the hearts of men. It also points to the Truth of scripture and tradition as an everlasting font of inspiration to all artists who find it, as evidenced in history, and calls contemporary artists to do the same. It contains really interesting thoughts on the nature of inspiration, being from the Holy Spirit, and the call to give form to that inspiration
June 23, 2021
Very thought provoking but it felt like St. John Paul II wanted to write a much longer book/encyclical on Art and felt like he had to keep it short. Which was probably a good call, But I would have read 300 pages on his thoughts of the relationship between art and the Church. His back to back sections "Does the Church need Art?" and "Does Art need the Church?" were my favorites.
April 15, 2024
JPII’s insights on the role of art and the artist is incredible! Every artist should read this and keep in mind what the purpose of art truly is.
Also used this for my senior thesis, but I would have read the whole thing anyway.
5/5 stars.
Also used this for my senior thesis, but I would have read the whole thing anyway.
5/5 stars.
July 3, 2025
Thank you Pope John Paul II! After struggling with the legitimacy and appropriateness of writing from the vantage point of a Catholic Christian, this letter gave me the badly needed clarity, guidance, and permission to write that I needed. I am eternally grateful for these loving words of wisdom.
December 23, 2022
ily JPII
April 3, 2023
" En contacto con las obras de arte , la humanidad de todos los tiempos , espera ser iluminada en su propio camino y en su propio destino."
May 5, 2025
A beautiful letter Pope John Paul II wrote to all artists outlining how important the Church viewed their creative work.
December 19, 2025
A beautiful little letter on the truth and goodness that flows from art - and how faith brings goodness and truth into art in turn.
December 15, 2017
A beautiful and profound message to artists ultimately about how beauty will save the world, to paraphrase St John Paul II's paraphrase of Dostoyevsky. A letter to come back to again.
October 3, 2025
"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art. Art must make perceptible, and as far as possible attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God."
St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists is easily one of the most encouraging reads for artists, especially Catholic artists. Why create? Because the Church needs art. True art points to God and artists have a “‘noble ministry’ when their works reflect in some way the infinite beauty of God and raise people's minds to him.” True art “stirs a hidden nostalgia for God.”
I love how JP II describes art as not just a hobby or a passion, but even more than that: a vocation . I first thought of writing as a vocation when Colleen Campbell Carroll described it that way in The Heart of Perfection, and I’m sure this letter was her inspiration. The former pope writes, “Those who perceive in themselves this kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation—as poet, writer, sculptor, architect, musician, actor and so on—feel at the same time the obligation not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their neighbour and of humanity as a whole.”
Why write? To serve your neighbor. To “render an exceptional service in favor of the common good.”
J.R.R. Tolkien rendered an exceptional service in the writing of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. His works are true art that reflect the ultimate Artist. How many times I think of God, of true beauty, of humanity’s weaknesses and need for God, and of heaven when reading the books or watching the movies. It becomes prayer.
“Come, O Creator Spirit, visit our minds, fill with your grace the hearts you have created.”
St. John Paul II’s Letter to Artists is easily one of the most encouraging reads for artists, especially Catholic artists. Why create? Because the Church needs art. True art points to God and artists have a “‘noble ministry’ when their works reflect in some way the infinite beauty of God and raise people's minds to him.” True art “stirs a hidden nostalgia for God.”
I love how JP II describes art as not just a hobby or a passion, but even more than that: a vocation . I first thought of writing as a vocation when Colleen Campbell Carroll described it that way in The Heart of Perfection, and I’m sure this letter was her inspiration. The former pope writes, “Those who perceive in themselves this kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation—as poet, writer, sculptor, architect, musician, actor and so on—feel at the same time the obligation not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their neighbour and of humanity as a whole.”
Why write? To serve your neighbor. To “render an exceptional service in favor of the common good.”
J.R.R. Tolkien rendered an exceptional service in the writing of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. His works are true art that reflect the ultimate Artist. How many times I think of God, of true beauty, of humanity’s weaknesses and need for God, and of heaven when reading the books or watching the movies. It becomes prayer.
“Come, O Creator Spirit, visit our minds, fill with your grace the hearts you have created.”
December 13, 2015
I love history, very much.
Therefore, I've gained a deeper and deeper appreciation for ART.
The Gospels have revealed the fulfillment, and, therefore, the fulfillment of artwork.
Take a journey through history with JPII - from the beginning times to Middle Ages - to Renaissance - up until now.
In an educational world dominated by reading, math, science, and test scores - this letter leads us to believe that creativity should never, never be left out of the picture of intelligence.
I am not good at art - but I respect every bit of its beauty.
By the way, seeing beauty might just be what your heart is yearning for.
Therefore, I've gained a deeper and deeper appreciation for ART.
The Gospels have revealed the fulfillment, and, therefore, the fulfillment of artwork.
Take a journey through history with JPII - from the beginning times to Middle Ages - to Renaissance - up until now.
In an educational world dominated by reading, math, science, and test scores - this letter leads us to believe that creativity should never, never be left out of the picture of intelligence.
I am not good at art - but I respect every bit of its beauty.
By the way, seeing beauty might just be what your heart is yearning for.
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