Francesco Sforza, the Vatican’s official photographer and one of the most discreet yet enduring witnesses to papal history, has retired after decades of service capturing some of the most iconic moments in the life of the Church.
October marked his final month of work at L’Osservatore Romano, bringing to a close a remarkable career that has spanned more than half a century.
For decades, Sforza stood quietly behind the camera, chronicling the journeys, gestures, and emotions of four successive pontificates — from Popes Paul VI and John Paul II to Benedict XVI and Francis, and now Pope Leo XIV.
His images have preserved the humanity and holiness of moments that have inspired millions around the world.
Born into a family of photographers, Sforza learned the craft from his father and began working for L’Osservatore Romano at the age of 16.
His career grew alongside the evolution of Vatican media, from film negatives and darkrooms to the vast digital archives now available online.
That monumental project — the digitization of the Vatican’s photographic archives — opened access to thousands of images dating back to 1930, many of which were taken by Sforza and his predecessor and uncle, the legendary papal photographer Arturo Mari.
When Mari retired at the end of John Paul II’s pontificate, he passed the mantle to his nephew, who had long worked at his side, learning the delicate art of photographing the Pope with reverence and restraint.
Though not a household name, Francesco Sforza is deeply respected in Vatican circles and among professional photographers for his humility, discipline, and deep understanding of the rituals and rhythms of papal life.
His work demanded not only technical mastery but also an extraordinary sensitivity — to anticipate a Pope’s gesture, a pilgrim’s tear, or a moment of grace that might last only a heartbeat.
I count myself among the many who had the privilege of knowing him. During my years as world president of UNDA — the international Catholic organization for broadcasters, now known as SIGNIS — Sforza was often there, camera in hand, during papal audiences with John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
One moment remains vividly etched in my memory. It was during the Synod of Bishops in October 2008 when I shook hands with Pope Benedict XVI.
As Sforza’s lens clicked, the Holy Father continued speaking to me, holding one of my hands gently in his while his other hand pointed toward the Synod Hall.
“I liked the story you told there,” he said, referring to my intervention during the assembly. Sforza’s photograph captured that tender, human exchange — the warmth and attentiveness of the Pope, the intimacy of the moment, and the quiet reverence that filled the room.
Our paths crossed again in November 2019, when Pope Francis visited Thailand. The day was sweltering; the National Stadium was packed with thousands for Holy Mass. In the blazing Bangkok heat, Sforza worked tirelessly near the altar, soaked in sweat but unshaken in focus.
When I approached him, he greeted me with his usual smile and a warm embrace — his clothes drenched, his spirit unwavering. That image of dedication remains one of the most vivid portraits of his professionalism and devotion.
To those who have known him, Francesco Sforza has always been more than a photographer. He is a witness to history, a guardian of memory, and a silent storyteller who has shown the world the face of faith through his lens.
As he steps away from his camera at the end of last week, his legacy lives on — in the countless images that continue to inspire awe, devotion, and hope.
The Vatican and the wider Church owe him a profound debt of gratitude. Through his photographs, the light of faith and the humanity of the popes will continue to shine for generations to come.
Francesco Sforza’s quiet artistry reminds us that history is not only written in words but also captured in moments — moments he so faithfully preserved for the world and for the Church he served with love.
Chainarong Monthienvichienchai is the former president of Unda – International Catholic Association for Radio and Television – and Thailand’s first Knight Grand Cross of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great.
