Statue unveiled by Pope Francis has ties to King's

Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, whose statues can be seen on King’s campus, had a statue unveiled by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on September 29, 2019. The bronze statue, Angels Unawares, was unveiled after the Pope’s Mass on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Pope was joined by four refugees from various parts of the world uncover the statue.

The bronze, six-metre-high Angels Unawares depicts migrants of different cultures and historical upheavals, from a Hasidic Jew escaping Nazi Germany to a Syrian fleeing civil war to a Polish refugee running from the Communist regime.  The inspiration for the work came from Hebrews 13:2 in the New Testament: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

King’s students, staff, faculty and visitors can see examples of Schmalz’s work on our campus.

The Homeless Jesus statue in the courtyard outside the G. Emmett Cardinal Carter Library is a replica of an original piece that was brought to St. Peter’s Square in 2013 and presented to Pope Francis.

He Who Comes to Serve is located on the grass behind the Darryl J. King Student Life Centre and was installed in 2013.

The donation of both statues to King’s was part of the Student Life Campaign that helped build the Darryl J. King Student Life Centre, which opened in 2014.

King’s University College is very proud to have Schmalz’s artwork on our campus and we congratulate him on the unveiling of his latest statue.

On November 17, World Day of the Poor as proclaimed by Pope Francis, more than 40 international cities will be united around the Homeless Jesus sculpture in various events at the request of the artist Timothy Schmalz. King's will be hosting a service at the Homeless Jesus Statue in front of the Cardinal Carter Library for an outdoor prayer service on November 17 at 8 p.m. There will be a brief introduction of the state of poverty in London and a candlelit prayer service including a brief reflection by Sr. Sue Wilson from the Office of Systemic Justice in London. The event will conclude with warm drinks in the Student Life Centre. There will also be a table available to learn about Basic Income and how it benefits and supports justice for all people. 

For more information on the service, please visit https://www.kings.uwo.ca/about-kings/visitor-info/calendar-of-events/prayer-on-the-world-day-of-the-poor/

To read the CBC article on the unveiling of Angels Unawares, please visit https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/schmalz-angels-unawares-statue-pope-st-peter-s-square-1.5301921

For more information on Schmalz’s statues and other artwork on King’s campus, please visit https://www.kings.uwo.ca/kings/assets/File/about/art/campus-art-brochure.pdf