The Mass of Bolsena, from the Stanza dell'Eliodor 1514

Raphael painted The Mass of Bolsena between 1512 and 1514, within the walls of the Stanza dell'Eliodoro in the Vatican. Commissioned by Pope Julius II, the fresco captures the moment when a Bohemian priest, skeptical about transubstantiation, witnesses a miracle during Mass—blood spontaneously appearing on the host. Beyond the depiction of a miraculous event, the fresco is steeped in the historical and political context of its time. Julius II sought to consolidate papal authority and assert the Church's divine legitimacy amidst challenges to its power. Raphael masterfully includes Julius II in the painting, kneeling to the right of the altar. This positions the Pope as a central figure in the divine event, reinforcing his authority. It is a complex interplay of faith, doubt, and power, reflecting the turbulent times in which it was created and leaving us to wonder how these issues impact us today.