The Angels Unawares sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz depicts more than 140 refugees.

Schmalz, who also created the Homeless Jesus sculpture, was commissioned by Pope Francis to call attention to the lives of migrants and refugees and their many contributions to society. 

On World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 29, 2019, the large bronze version was installed in St. Peters Square Rome and the smaller bronze was installed in St. Paul’s Basilica, Rome.

The inspiration of the work arises from a passage from Hebrew 13:2 found in the New Testament: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

ANGELS UNAWARES 
CROSS AMERICAN TOUR

Summer 2021, Basilica Plaza
This powerful sculpture will be on display in front of The Basilica of Saint Mary Summer 2021. Look for more information about programs to highlight this important work. 

The sculptural work interprets this belief that there is to be found the sacred in the stranger, in terms of the refugee and migrant people. 

The work depicts migrants and refugees from all cultural and racial backgrounds and from all historic periods of time together—shoulder to shoulder on a raft or boat. Within this diverse crowd of people, angel wings are visible in the center, suggesting that within the migrant and refugee is the sacred.

It also expresses perfectly Martin Luther King’s famous quote, “We all came from different ships but are on the same boat now.”

To learn more about this artwork visit sculpturebytps.com.