The “Pro Arte Christiana” Foundation, headquartered in the Polish city of Kalisz, has for years organized a competition aimed at kindergarten and primary school children worldwide. The initiative aims to introduce the figure of the Pope and motivate children toward creative work, developing their artistic imagination. In previous years, the Foundation invited children to paint Pope Francis. This time, children aged 3 to 10 were invited to paint Leo XIV.

The objective of the competition is to promote the figure of the new Pope and, at the same time, to inspire children to express themselves through the visual arts. The organizers particularly encourage participation from children in therapeutic centers, special education schools, and orphanages.

The competition concluded on January 30, 2026, while the closing ceremony took place on May 9 at the Franciscan Monastery in Kalisz. The ceremony was preceded by a Holy Mass dedicated to Pope Leo XIV, attended by the winners, runners-up, and their families. Father Janusz Siwicki, OFM Conv., guardian of the monastery, presided over the Eucharist.

Participants and Jury

This edition of the competition saw the participation of 198 children from Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and the United States. The jury consisted of:

• Maciej Konieczny, director and creator of the competition;

• Prof. Monika Kostrzewa, Ph.D., from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań;

• Beata Michalak-Konieczna, Ph.D., and Anna Sobczyk-Gąsiorek, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts in Kalisz at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

The jury decided to award prizes to the ten authors of the best works.

Winners and Prizes

Primary School Category:

• Honorable Mentions: Izabela Kopeć from Koziegłowy, Szymon Perek from Koźminek, and Josephine Thompson from New York, USA.

• Third Prize: Lena Mazur from Ostrzeszów.

• Second Prize: Anthony Pesantez from New York, USA.

• First Prize: Barbara Grysa from Koziegłowy.

Kindergarten Category:

• Honorable Mentions: Aleksander Mieszkowski from Warsaw and Apolonia Bernat from Wrocław.

• Third Prize: Benjamin Pesantez from New York, USA.

• Second Prize: Daniel Brant from Koziegłowy.

• First Prize: Jakub Tyszkiewicz from Warsaw.

Two prizes, picked up by the grandmother of Benjamin and Anthony Pesantez, the American winners, will soon be sent abroad.

The winners received numerous prizes: headphones, silver coins and collector banknotes, painting and drawing materials, toys, and splendid photo albums with dedications from Card. Stanisław Dziwisz, Archbishop Emeritus of Kraków, and Msgr. Waclaw Depo, Archbishop of Częstochowa.

It is worth noting that the competition took place under the high patronage of His Excellency Msgr. Antonio Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, and His Excellency Msgr. Damian Bryl, Bishop of Kalisz.