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NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have also found application in the religious context, with the Vatican and Pope Francis embracing this technology for various purposes — from charity to cultural heritage preservation. This research explores both the official NFTs issued by the Vatican related to Pope Francis and the independent creations by artists who have represented the Pontiff in digital format. 

The analyzed NFTs span multiple blockchain platforms, including Ethereum, Tezos, and others, highlighting how the Catholic Church is attempting to connect with younger generations through blockchain technology.

In 2021, Pope Francis launched an NFT collection through the Scholas Occurrentes Foundation on the AkoinNFT platform. These NFTs were created to raise funds for the Pope’s global charity organization. 

The collection features digital artworks inspired by Pope Francis’ messages, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s educational initiatives. This marked one of the Vatican’s first official forays into the NFT space, signaling a turning point in the use of blockchain technology for charitable purposes.

The Vatican Library, in collaboration with NTT DATA Italia, launched the “Vatican Library Web3 Support Project.” This initiative rewards Italian users with NFTs for promoting or donating to the Apostolic Vatican Library. Users can receive:

These NFTs function as “soulbound” digital keys — permanently linked to the recipient’s wallet and non-transferable — aimed at expanding the library’s online community and making its unique collections more accessible.

The Vatican’s first official NFT is a 149-megapixel mosaic of Pope Francis, composed of 350 unique photos taken during his Apostolic Visit to Thailand (November 2019). Commemorating the 350th anniversary of Catholicism in Thailand, this NFT was minted on Kalamint.io, a Tezos-based marketplace known for its energy-efficient transactions. 

Proceeds support the Scuola Communita Incontro in Pathum Thani, Thailand, providing education for disadvantaged children. The project emphasizes sustainability and digital permanence, aligning with the Clean NFT movement.

The Pontifex Carpet NFT (priced at $150,000) was created through a collaboration between Zuleya (an FBMI retail initiative) and MORROW collective. Based on a historic carpet gifted to Pope Francis by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2016), its key features include:

Launched at Abu Dhabi Art (November 15), it remains available for purchase on OpenSea.

Artist Mr. Brainwash created this video NFT as a teaser for Pope Francis, derived from his painting EL INMIGRANTE — reflecting themes of migration and human dignity. The project aligns with the Vatican’s embrace of contemporary art and digital outreach.

The Vatican is developing an official VR NFT gallery with Sensorium and Humanity 2.0, aiming to democratize access to its 70,000+ artworks (including pieces by Da Vinci and Raphael). While NFT sales remain unclear, the initiative seeks to eliminate socio-economic and geographic barriers to art.

At the “Human Economic Forum” (December 2024), Pope Francis was gifted an NFT by UniCrypto (a Puglian youth group). The NFT — stored on a Ledger hardware wallet — features the forum’s logo, symbolizing social sustainability, ethical tech, and AI.

A notable case involves MidJourney AI-generated deepfakes of Pope Francis in a white puffer jacket, sparking ethical debates. MidJourney later banned the word “pope” in prompts to prevent misuse. These AI images raised concerns about misrepresentation, while others defended them as artistic expression.

The Vatican’s NFT adoption represents a convergence of faith and innovation:

Via NFTs, the Vatican Library (with NTT DATA) is digitizing its 1.6M printed books, 80K manuscripts, 300K coins/medals, and 150K prints/drawings — showcasing how blockchain can preserve history and enhance global access.

Pope Francis’ NFTs blend religious tradition with digital innovation — from Scholas Occurrentes’ charity NFTs to the Vatican Library’s Web3 project and independent artworks. Despite NFT market volatility, Vatican adoption underscores the long-term potential for democratizing art, funding causes, and engaging communities. However, ethical concerns persist regarding:

As the Catholic Church navigates this evolving space, NFTs prove a powerful tool for bridging faith and modernity.