Father Rob, Judy and I were really interested in tracking down the large banner that was behind the altar when the Pope celebrated Mass in Bethlehem a few weeks ago. We asked many people and no one knew what happened to it or where it was located now!
Persistence paid off and we located the brother of the artist. He knew where it was – in his brother’s home! He called his brother who agreed to meet with us to show us the original work and to discuss the painting with us. He not only agreed to see us but came and picked us up at our hotel and drove us to his home to view the painting. What a gifted and talented man is the artist, Robert Giacamin, pictured below with his painting.
The painting is smaller than the large banner, as you can see below. Actually, because of the size of the stage where the altar was set up, Robert had to add two more paintings, one on each side of the original so as not to lose too much detail in the final large banner.
Mr. Giacamin is indeed a gifted artist and a very humble man. He gifted the world with this work and us his time and love by spending the morning with us explaining the symbolism and process in this amazing work.
God has blessed him in many ways and we pray that will always be the case.

Submitted by: Cathy O’Toole