Powerful Stories: "Can You Hold For The Pope?"

By Aundria McMillan Humphrey

Xóchitl Franco, born in Sonora, and now residing in San Miguel de Allende, describes herself as an Artista Plástica. This translates to “Visual Artist.” And indeed, walking into her home, one immediately sees that her passion is palpable, capturing the world as she sees it through her unique creative lens on very large canvases. “I don’t paint small,” she laughs.

Xóchitl has traveled and lived all over the world, but her favorite is the state of Chiapas. Wherever she has lived, she has had the privilege of spending her life doing what she loves to do. Paint. Many of her paintings have been published in art books.

In March 2024, Xóchitl received an unexpected call from Castell Gandolfo in Roma, calling from the private office of Pope Francis.  Her first response was to hang up, not believing the call to be authentic. They called back. This time she took the call, and much to her chagrin and delight, The Pope was requesting one of her paintings for his private office in a dwelling, outside of the Vatican. The Pope’s request was specific. “I need something that represents México City…the people.  Who is México?”

So much of Xóchitl’s huge body of work has focused on depicting the lives of indigenous women… “The hard-working women who take care of everything…the home, the family, the husband.” Xóchitl is passionate about how she portrays Mexican women.  It was one of these painting that she donated to the private residence of The Pope.

Influenced by the great Mexican Artist, Rufino Tamayo, she says, “I’ve been painting all my life.” As we entered her studio, I could see that decades of painting had not dimmed the light on her enthusiasm.

Aundria McMillan Humphrey www.slowdowngranny.com