CNA Staff, Oct 3, 2025 / 06:00 am

The day after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, renowned Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz began working on a sculpture no one had commissioned: Jesus comforting the slain conservative Christian activist, the fatal wound on his neck covered by Christ’s pierced hand.

“Shocked and devastated” upon hearing of the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination, in an exclusive interview Schmalz told CNA he entered his studio at 4 a.m. the following day and began building up the sculpture with his hands as “a form of prayer.”

“I had an audio recording of the Old Testament playing in the background and Charlie’s voice debating at the same time as I sculpted,” he said.

When he first formed the face of Jesus, Schmalz said it was screaming with rage, reflecting the r

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