Pope Leo XIV References Van Gogh in First Address: Exploring the Meaning Behind the Unlikely Comparison
Pope Leo XIV Invokes Van Gogh’s “Sower at Sunset” to Illuminate the Parable of the Sower
In an evocative moment during his first general audience as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV referenced Vincent van Gogh’s “Sower at Sunset” (1888) to draw spiritual insights from the Biblical Parable of the Sower, emphasizing hope, perseverance, and divine providence. The gathering took place on May 21 in Saint Peter’s Square, where approximately 40,000 faithful congregated to hear from the newly elected leader of the Catholic Church.
The newly appointed Pope — born Robert Prevost in Chicago and the first North American in history to take the papal office — used the famed Dutch painter’s image of a farmer at dusk as a visual framework for expressing biblical and contemporary truths. As he addressed the crowd, he implored nations to work toward peace and highlighted the need for compassion amidst ongoing humanitarian crises, including what he described as the “heartbreaking” situation in Gaza.
An Artistic Meditation on Scripture
The Parable of the Sower, found in the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 13), recounts a sower who scatters seeds on various types of terrain. While some seeds are eaten by birds, scorched on rocky ground, or choked by thorns, others prosper in good soil, yielding a bountiful harvest. This narrative is often interpreted as a metaphor for how people receive and respond to divine wisdom.
Van Gogh’s “Sower at Sunset” — with its vibrant brush strokes and radiant sun sinking over fields ready for harvest — served as more than artistic backdrop for the pope. “And it strikes me that, behind the sower, van Gogh depicted the grain already ripe,” Pope Leo XIV observed. “It seems to me an image of hope: one way or another, the seed has borne fruit.”
The rich symbolism in Van Gogh’s canvas includes a solitary figure sowing seeds in the foreground while swaths of golden wheat shimmer in the background. The Pope interpreted this juxtaposition as a message of spiritual perseverance, noting that even in terrains of challenge, divine seeds may still find purchase and flourish.
Faith Amid Uncertainty
Pope Leo XIV drew further significance from the structural elements of the painting. Observing how the sower is placed off-center while the grand sun dominates the canvas, he contemplated the idea that “God moves history,” even when His presence may appear subdued or distant.
This fresh reading connects van Gogh’s artistic vision with enduring religious themes. Known during his lifetime as a deeply spiritual individual who once aspired to the pastorate before becoming a painter, van Gogh often used nature and agrarian imagery as vessels of reflection, labor, and transcendence.
Legacy of Art and Accessibility
Pope Leo XIV inherits not only the Vatican’s extensive holding of sacred and secular artworks, but also the legacy of Pope Francis’s advocacy for the arts and artists. Pope Francis famously championed art as a universal language, touching upon the need for accessibility and community engagement through cultural expression. In invoking van Gogh, Pope Leo signals a continuation of that vision: using the arts to deepen theological understanding and enrich the Church’s connection to the modern world.
By interweaving a 19th-century painting with timeless scripture, Pope Leo not only connects the Church’s teachings to a broader cultural heritage but also invites believers and seekers alike to see divine light in the works of creative hands. His homily offered a universal meditation for a diverse audience — sowing seeds of reflection, faith, and hope in the hearts of those gathered under the golden Roman sky.