Maurizio Cattelan’s meteorite-struck pope returns as a miniature
With La Nona Ora, Maurizio Cattelan revisits one of his most controversial works, translating the 1999 installation into a new limited edition sculpture. The piece depicts Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite, frozen in a moment of collapse atop a vivid red carpet. Both irreverent and carefully composed, the work retains its original tension, presenting a powerful religious figure as vulnerable and human.
To mark the release, the Italian artist expands the project beyond the object itself by introducing a confessional hotline, inviting the public to submit their sins via voicemail, text, or WhatsApp. Launching on April 2nd, 2026, just ahead of Easter, the initiative draws on the structure of Catholic confession while translating it into a contemporary, mediated format. Participants are offered a form of symbolic absolution alongside early access to the edition. Cattelan will personally review submissions, responding to selected confessions and awarding one with the sculpture.
all images courtesy of Avant Arte, unless stated otherwise
La Nona Ora: controversy as material
The original La Nona Ora (1999) provoked strong reactions upon its debut, particularly in Catholic contexts. One of its most visible repercussions occurred in Poland, where the work contributed to the resignation of a museum director following public and political pressure.
Presented again in this format by Avant Arte, Maurizio Cattelan’s work maintains its critical position. The addition of the hotline extends its logic, inviting viewers to engage directly with the same themes of guilt, judgment, and redemption that the artist brings forward through this sculpture.
The limited edition consists of 666 individually hand-painted resin sculptures, a number not chosen lightly, each accompanied by a metal ferula. Measuring 12 × 29 × 19 cm, every piece is marked with a handwritten edition number and arrives with a certificate of authenticity.
The edition will be released on April 23rd, 2026, following the closure of the hotline, establishing a sequence in which participation and confession precede acquisition.
Maurizio Cattelan, La Nona Ora (1999) | image courtesy Perrotin
Maurizio Cattelan revisits one of his most controversial works
a new limited edition sculpture
the piece depicts Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite
Maurizio Cattelan’s work maintains its critical position
the Italian artist expands the project beyond the object itself by introducing a confessional hotline
project info:
name: La Nona Ora
artist: Maurizio Cattelan | @mauriziocattelan
publisher: Avant Arte | @avant.arte
dimensions: 12 (H) × 29 (W) × 19 cm
edition: 666 (hand-numbered)
release date: April 23rd, 2026
hotline activation: April 2nd – April 22nd, 2026
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