Kiko Argüello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiko Argüello
|
|
|---|---|
Kiko Argüello at a Vocational Meeting
|
|
| Born | January 9, 1939 León, Castilla y León, Spain
|
| Nationality | Spanish  |
| Alma mater | Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando |
Francisco José Gómez de Argüello y Wirtz (born January 9, 1939), known as Kiko Argüello, is a Spanish artist. He is famous for starting the Neocatechumenal Way with Carmen Hernández and Father Mario Pezzi.
Contents
Early Life and Big Questions
Kiko Argüello was born in León, Spain. He studied fine arts at the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. In 1959, he won a special national award for his paintings.
While at the Royal Academy, Kiko went through a deep personal struggle. He wondered why there was so much unfairness in the world when people wished for justice. He explored ideas from philosophers like Sartre, who suggested that life might be meaningless. Kiko tried to live believing this idea, but even after winning art prizes and appearing on TV, he felt empty. He asked himself, "How can people live if I can't?"
Finding Meaning
At the height of his struggle, Kiko read another philosopher named Bergson. Bergson suggested that a deep inner feeling, or "intuition," could lead to truth, even more than just thinking with reason. Kiko realized that his artist's intuition saw beauty in nature and things around him. He felt that life couldn't be meaningless.
This led him to believe that someone must have created the world. He felt that God existed, that God loved him, and that he was a child of God. To his surprise, this God he felt in his heart was Jesus Christ, the one taught by the Catholic Church.
In 1980, Kiko spoke with Pope John Paul II and explained his journey. He said that God allowed him to experience feeling that life was meaningless until God showed him mercy. After this important change in his life, Kiko decided to dedicate his life to Jesus and the Church. He began to learn more about the Christian faith.
Inspired by Charles de Foucauld, Kiko left his art studies and career. He took only his guitar, a crucifix, and his Bible. He went to live among the very poor people in a wooden shack in Palomeras Altas, a slum outside Madrid. This is where he began the Neocatechumenal Way in 1964.
The Neocatechumenal Way
The Neocatechumenal Way is a path of Christian education and formation within the Catholic Church. After more than 30 years of work in over 100 countries, Pope John Paul II recognized it as an important way to help Catholics grow in their faith.
Kiko Argüello, along with Carmen Hernández and the Italian priest Mario Pezzi, lead the Neocatechumenal Way around the world. The Church officially approved its rules in 2008.
Today, the Neocatechumenal Way is active in more than 110 countries across all six continents. It is present in nearly 900 dioceses (areas led by a bishop) and about 8,000 parishes (local church communities). Over 30,000 communities exist, with many of them in Europe and Italy.
Awards and Recognition
Several Catholic universities have given Kiko Argüello special honorary degrees. These degrees recognize his contributions.
- In 2009, he received an honorary degree from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. This was for the Neocatechumenal Way's strong focus on family matters.
- In 2013, he received an honorary degree from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. This recognized his work in renewing the Church and promoting human dignity and Christian family values.
- In 2015, Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández received their third honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of America. The university president quoted Pope Francis, saying, "I thank you for the immense good you are doing for the whole Church." This award was mainly for their dedication to the poor and bringing many people to Christ and the Catholic faith.
Art and Architecture
Kiko Argüello is also known for his art and designs. He has painted many religious artworks in churches and cathedrals in different cities. He is also a psalmist, meaning he has composed over 180 religious songs used in Neocatechumenal Way celebrations.
His work has brought a new style to religious art, architecture, music, and church decorations.
Notable Artworks and Designs
- In Rome, Kiko has painted large murals in several churches, including the crypt of the Church of the Canadian Martyrs and the Church of Saint Frances Cabrini.
- He designed the International Centre for the New Evangelisation in Porto San Giorgio, Italy. He also created a huge cross and an abstract painting of the Creation there.
- He has designed many of the 75 Redemptoris Mater Seminaries, including those in Newark and Denver (USA), and Rome (Italy).
- In Florence, he painted the "Corona Misterica" behind the altar of the Church of San Bartolomeo in Tuto. He also designed a "Catechumenium" there, which is a building with halls for religious gatherings.
- In Piacenza, he painted one of the world's largest murals (500 square meters) in the Parish of the Holy Trinity. It shows the glory of Christ Pantocrator, the Resurrected Christ, on a golden background.
- In Madrid, Kiko designed several Catechumeniums and painted themes in various parishes. For example, in the parish of Saint Catherine Labouré, he designed the church's architecture and painted the Story of Salvation around the temple.
- In Oulu, Finland, he designed the first Roman Catholic parish church in an area that had never had one before.
- In Israel, he helped design the Domus Galilaeae, a center for biblical studies and pilgrims. He painted the Last Judgement that decorates the church there.
- In 2004, Kiko was asked to paint the interior of the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid and replace its stained glass windows. This was done in time for the royal wedding of Crown Prince Felipe of Spain. His paintings from the Cathedral have been copied in many other seminaries and churches around the world.
See also
