About Us

The Canadian Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums was formed in 1999 as a not-for-profit interfaith group that is committed to the restoration, preservation and increase in artistic patrimony of the collections and buildings of the Vatican Museums, while furthering the understanding and knowledge of its members of these works of art through lectures, meetings and visits to the Vatican.

The common misconception is that art is a luxury of the rich.  The Holy Father, Pope Francis’ comment is that “ No one needs beauty more than the poor. Their life is often surrounded by much suffering and lack of hope. They seek out beauty as a way to lift their spirits.  How many street people spend their day in Museums, Churches and Parks?  It is not just a practical solution to a safe place to be, but also a beautiful place to rest the soul."

So preserving these cultural spaces is service to the poor directly, but also indirectly.  By promoting the Vatican Museums and their collections, we remind all society of the greatest achievements of the human spirit and uplift everyone to strive after eternal ideals that go beyond the immediate.  Beauty engenders beauty! It makes it grow and expand.  No one needs beauty more than the poor, and in a way we are all poor!. Thus we need beauty.