The 10 Most Iconic Photographs in Catholic Church History

We are coming up on the bicentennial of the technology of photography. The first permanent image was taken in 1826, but it became a practical, publicly known technology in 1839, the year considered its official "birthday". 

That means for nearly 19 centuries, the Catholic Church relied on sacred art in the form of icons, paintings, statues, mosaics, tapestry and stained glass windows to tell the visual story of our Faith.  

What would it have been like to see a photograph of Peter giving his speech at Pentecost or capturing the gathering of bishops at the Council of Nicea? 

In the last two hundred years, because of the camera, we have been able to chronicle incredible saints and amazing historical moments in remarkable detail and with historical precision. 

If you’re like me, some of your favorite saints are those who you identify with through a photograph. These photos aren't just historical documentation, they make the Communion of Saints and Church history come alive. Today, we don't have to wonder...

• What did it look like when the crowds saw the sun dance at Fatima?

• What did it look like when Pope John paul II forgave the man who tried to kill him?

• What did it look like when millions of teens from around the world gathered on a beach to see and hear a pope?

Here are the 10 Most Iconic Photographs in Catholic Church History...

What: 1. The Shroud of Turin 

When: May 25 and 28, 1898

Where: Turin, Italy

Who: Photographed by Secondo Pia

Historical Significance: This iconic photo of the face on the Shroud of Turin has led many to conclude that the image was created by a sudden burst of light at the moment of the resurrection of Jesus. This 'photograph of the resurrection', perhaps more than any other, changed the history of the relationship between science and the Catholic Faith. It led to the surprising discovery that the anatomical image on the Shroud of Turin was actually a photographic negative. The Shroud went from an obscure relic venerated as the traditional burial shroud of Jesus into an object of scientific study. To this day, many scientific studies have been unable to determine what caused the image to appear on the 14 foot long linen burial shroud. 

What: 2. The Martyrdom of Blessed Miguel Pro

When: November 23, 1927

Where: Mexico City, Mexico

Who: Photographed by President Plutarco Elías Calles’ official photographers

Historical Significance: The execution of Blessed Miguel Pro is widely considered the most prominent and possibly the first instance of a future Catholic saint's martyrdom being captured in a photograph. Orchestrated by Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles, who wanted the event to be meticulously documented by multiple newspaper photographers and journalists. The government intended for the graphic images to be published in newspapers nationwide as a stark warning and deterrent to the Cristero rebels. Ironically, the photos had the opposite effect, inspiring widespread admiration for Father Pro's courage and turning him into a powerful symbol of martyrdom for the Catholic Church. The photo was reproduced and blessed as a sacramental and used as a holy card by the Cristeros in their war against the anti-Catholic government.

What: 3. Aerial Photo of World Youth Day 2013

When: July 27, 2013

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Who: Photographed by various news agencies, Associated Press

Historical Significance: This image captured the immense scale (millions of young people) of Pope Francis’ first Catholic World Youth Day. It shows that the Catholic Church has the power to draw millions of young people to gather for the celebration of their Catholic Faith. The largest WYD gathering took place in Manila. Nevertheless, this impressive photo from Brazil remains an iconic image of hope in the future of the Church and a sign of its universality and unity.

What: 4. Miracle of the Sun 

When: October 13,  1917

Where: Fatima, Portugal

Who: Photographed by the state-run newspaper, O Século

Historical Significance: Like the execution photo of Miguel Pro, this photo was also taken by the enemy of the Church, a secular, government run, newspaper called, O Seculo. The intention was to humiliate the credulous crowds of pious Portuguese peasants looking for a miracle. Instead, it shows that massive, ‘nature miracles’ are true and they still happen in a post-biblical world. The photo captured the hope and terror of the crowd who simultaneously looked up to the sky as the sun began to swirl and seemed to dance, nearly colliding with the earth.

What: 5. Pope John Paul II Forgiving his Would-be Assassin

When: December 1983

Where: Rome, Italy

Who: Photographed by Vatican photographer

Historical Significance: This photo captured Pope John Paul II being a the authentic vicar of Christ and a saint. It serves as a powerful, real-world documentation of radical Christian mercy and an example of forgiveness set by one of our recently canonized popes. It is an iconic depiction of the triumph of Christian love over hate. It serves as a hopeful illustration that 'perpetual' cycles of violence can end. 

What: 6. Saint Pope John Paul II Meets Saint Mother Theresa

When: March 14, 1991

Where: Calcutta, India

Who: Photographed by news photographers

Historical Significance: In Church history we have many examples of Saints who knew each other and lived contemporaneously. For example Saint Augustine and Saint Ambrose. We don’t have a photo of when Ambrose baptized Augustine, but this photo captures the warm embrace of two spiritual giants of the 20th century brought together by their fame in living heroic virtue. It is an iconic representation of modern holiness and legendary compassion and how God often uses a pair of saints to work in tandem.

What: 7. Saint Damien with Leprosy

When: April 1889

Where: Molokai Hawaii, USA.

Who: Photographed by William Brigham, a naturalist and anthropologist 

Historical Significance: This photo shows leperous Damien de Veuster who became known as Saint Damien of Molokai at the end of his fifteen years serving as a priest for a leper colony in Hawaii. He became a leper-priest or as he put it, ‘leper with the lepers’. The biblical type affliction, shown in this photo, remains a testament to his spiritual transformation and sanctification. It stands as documentation of his life's work in the isolated Hawaiian leper colony of Kalaupapa. It's an iconic image of kenosis; a saint pouring himself out to the end. 

What: 8. Saint Bernadette Soubirous

When: 1858

Where: Lourdes, France

Who: Photographed by a local photographer in Lourdes, Philippe Viron

Historical Significance:  This is a colorized version of the first photograph ever taken of a Catholic Saint. It captures the humble, young visionary and peasant girl central to the Lourdes apparitions. Bernadette, who the Virgin Mary appeared to and announced herself as ‘The Immaculate Conception’ was widely photographed after her apparitions, becoming the first recognized saint in photos. To this day, Lourdes France remains one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the Catholic Church.

What: 9. Apparition of Our Lady of Zeitoun

When: April 13, 1968

Where: Cairo, Egypt

Who: Photographed by Wagih Rizk Matta, a professional photographer from Cairo

Historical Significance: More than any other photo, this captures a very clear image of a luminous figure who stands in the traditional posture of the Virgin Mary, hands folded with a halo.  This was one of several photos that documented the extraordinary apparition of Our Lady of Zeitoun (1968-1971) which was witnessed by millions of Christians and Muslims. It was a massive three year event The Coptic bishops have approved this apparition as being supernatural and the Roman Catholic Church has not made an official declaration.

What: 10. Photo of Saint Therese of Lisieux dressed as St. Joan of Arc

When: March 25, 1895

Where: Lisieux, France

Who: Photographed by Therese’s sister, Céline, took the famous photograph of Thérèse in the convent's courtyard in early 1895, as part of a play Thérèse wrote about Joan's life.

Historical Significance: This is the perfect iconic image of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Here we have a young French woman Saint dressed as her patron Saint, also a young French girl, Joan of Arc. It offers a rare glimpse into Thérèse's inner spiritual life, showing her profound admiration of Joan's famous courage and big mission compared to the spirituality of her own "Little Way".