Maupal and the super pope: How Street Tart made Pope Francis to the icon

It was a simple graffito in a side street near the St. Peter’s Square – and yet it was about the world: a smiling Pope Francis in the White Talar, in one hand a black briefcase with the inscription « Valores », in the other the fist to jump like a superhero. The artist called his work « Superpope » – and suddenly Francis made it into pop culture. The Vatican divided the picture on Twitter, the media cheered.

Mauro Pallotta, alias Maupal, is behind the picture. The artist, born in Rome in 1972, is actually a classically trained sculptor and painter, but he tells his true stories on walls. The street is its museum. Maupal combines humor and social criticism and hits a nerve – not only in Italy.

Francis as a window cleaner, beggar and peace pier

Pope Francis was one of his recurring motifs. In addition to the « Superpapst », another picture caused a sensation: the Pope as a window cleaner who frees the sky of gray smog. A visual homage to the environmental encyclical « Laudato Si ‘ »-and a statement how important Francis’ voice is in the climate discourse.

Again and again Maupal Francis put in everyday, almost banal situations. Sometimes he showed him as a homeless beggar, sometimes with a shopping bag full of children’s books.

He has already met Francis personally. « I was very excited and have to admit that I did not call him his holiness in the salutation, but Mr. Pope, » he recalls in Bavarian Radio. « It was a bit unusual. And he broke out in laughter. »

Maupal explained to me to glorify the Pope in interviews. With his art, however, he showed how annoying this Pope was – and at the same time how he tackled the topics of our time.

Art in the area of ​​tension between the church and the street

As a graphitti artist, Maupal found Pope Francis as a religious leader who liked to get himself « vom Socket ». While the church is still often perceived as distant, Maupal’s art created a bridge between the institution and the street.

But the artist was not afraid of criticism either. His work « Papa Francesco: The Walking Stick » showed the Pope as a hiker, who has a heavy backpack stressed by problems. It is a loving but clear view of the challenges of the church.

Today Maupal is one of the most influential street artists worldwide. His works hang in galleries from London to Miami – but his home remains Rome, more precisely Borgo Pio, the district right next to the Vatican. Maupal proves that art can be more in public space than colorful walls. She can trigger discussions, build bridges and even make the Pope a comic hero.