A Canadian artist who already has some of his sculptures on display at the Vatican is sending his latest creations to Bethlehem. Timothy Schmalz likes to listen to scriptures while he works in his southern Ontario studio. “This is my hometown, here in Elmira,” the artist explained. “I really do love this area. I feel so attached to this spot.” While some of his work can be found in Waterloo Region, his most famous pieces are half a world away. Schmalz first caught the attention of Pope Francis with his bronze sculpture titled “Homeless Jesus,” which depicts Christ laying on a public bench while covered with a blanket. Schmalz said he gave the piece to the pontiff, who also requested 10 smaller versions to share with others. The Vatican also commissioned other works from the artist, including a bust of Pope Leo XIV. “My sculptures that I created in Rome, I think they’re raw,” Schmalz said. “They’re hardcore. They’re actually touching something that I think resonates with people today.” He hopes his latest work will inspire peace. Schmalz said nine of his sculptures, that can also be found in Rome, are in the process of being shipped to Bethlehem. The city is located on the West Bank and is believed to be birthplace of Jesus. The artist said he found inspiration from scripture, and specifically Matthew 25:36. “When I was in prison, you visited me,” he paraphrased. “It’s a sculpture of Jesus trapped inside a prison, inside a jail.” The quote continues, “When I was sick, you visited me.” “[The sculpture] represents Jesus, as someone sick, reaching out with his hand, beckoning people to come visit him,” Schmalz explained. The commission followed the signing of the Canada-Palestine Cultural Agreement in February. “It was at the end of January that I reached out to the council of Bethlehem and to the mayor to see if there was an opportunity for a partnership,” said Shawky Fahel, CEO of the Canadian International Development Organization, based in Waterloo Region. “We are hoping, through the cultural agreement, to bring a ray of hope, to bring a ray of humanity and dignity to that part of the world that has been in turmoil [for a long time].” For Schmalz, Bethlehem is the perfect place for his pieces. “It’s our spiritual duty to promote and celebrate the ideas of peace,” he said. “I can’t think of a better location for this sculpture to go, considering the strife that’s happening right there in the world.” Anwar Jaber, a professor at the University of Waterloo, hopes the commission will inspire future exchanges. “What kind of opportunities will it open to the people of Bethlehem?” she wondered. “What kind of cultural and economic opportunities… with Canadian businesses, friends and artists? I think it’s a great initiative, but there is a lot to be done as well.” She added she hopes the statues encourage people to reflect on the nature of peace. “What does that mean for Bethlehem as a city that has been shaped over the past decades by the Israeli occupation, as a city that is under the Palestinian Authority, but encircled with Israeli control area checkpoints?” she asked “Bethlehem was actually partially bombed during the Second Intifada during 2002, about 24 years ago. And specifically, that site where those sculptures will be installed in the Manger Square, it’s a significant square in that city of Bethlehem.” Meanwhile, Schmalz hopes his work is well-received by residents in the West Bank and beyond. “Bethlehem belongs to everyone,” he said. “Not just the people living within that neighbourhood. I hope that these messages, these visual messages, soften and make people more compassionate. And hopefully, can make a change.” The nine statues will be installed along Star Street in front of the Church of Nativity, by Christmas 2026.
