A Troubling Appointment in a Sacred Space
Pope Leo XIV’s recent appointment of Cristiana Perrella—an artist known for curating sexually explicit, homoerotic, and even sadomasochistic exhibits—to lead the Pontifical Academy for Fine Arts has raised alarm among faithful Catholics, according to new reports from LifeSite. This venerable institution, founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III, exists to promote sacred art rooted in Christian beauty—yet this choice signals a startling departure from centuries of tradition.
Why This Is So Dangerous
The Catechism emphasizes that art in the Church must uplift souls toward God, not drag them toward disordered passions (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2500s). When the very body charged with safeguarding sacred art is led by someone whose past work contradicts Church teaching on chastity and the dignity of the human person, the integrity of liturgical and devotional aesthetics is at risk. As Pope St. John Paul II warned, beauty must always “point the way to the good,” never cloud it.
A Clash of Cultures, Not Simply Styles
We must recall St. Augustine’s phrase, “Beauty captivates us so that, by it, we may come to love the Good.” Here, the axis of beauty is twisted—not to elevate the soul toward the Divine, but to shock and sensualize. This is not harmonious, reverent representation; it is dissonant, destabilizing spectacle. It aligns poorly with traditional Catholic symbolism steeped in transcendence, order, and holiness.
Not a Rebuke of the Pope—but a Clarion Call to Discernment
While we respect Pope Leo XIV’s office and intentions, fidelity to tradition demands vigilance. The faithful are called to love the Pope—and to speak truth when alarm bells ring. Blessed John Henry Newman reminds us: “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” But not every change is progress. Here, the direction feels more like drift.
What This Means for the Pontificate
This appointment should be seen not in isolation but as a signal: can the Church expect consistency in upholding aesthetic holiness if the gatekeepers of sacred art themselves undermine it? Should the faithful trust that future commissions, restorations, and teachings will nurture awe—or commercialize shock? Only clear leadership and reaffirmation of tradition can restore confidence in the Holy See’s guardianship of sacred beauty.
It certainly feels like the honeymoon is over and Pope Leo XIV is more comfortable in openly picking up the mantle put down by Pope Francis, a much more progressive leader than the Church has seen in previous times. The pope’s choice for this position certainly rains on the parade of those who were hopeful for a much more conservative pontificate.
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