Illinois prison artist wowed that her artwork reached Pope Leo XIV

A Humble Gift from Illinois: Yesenia Diaz's Artwork Captivates Pope Leo XIV

In a heartwarming gesture, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his wife MK brought an unexpected gift to Pope Leo XIV during their visit to Rome in November. Among the items they presented were two biographies and four craft beers, but it was a drawing created by Yesenia Diaz, a 38-year-old woman incarcerated at the Logan Correctional Center, that truly caught the governor's eye.

Diaz, who has been serving a 33-year sentence for murder since the age of 20, had submitted her artwork to an art contest organized by MK Pritzker as part of the "Art Is Healing" program. The drawing, titled "Praising My Way to Wholeness," represents Diaz's journey from darkness to redemption and features a monarch butterfly facing towards the sun, symbolizing freedom.

The drawing was met with widespread admiration from prison officials and Catholic community members, who praised its poignant message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. When the Pritzkers visited the Vatican, MK presented the drawing to the Pope, citing its beauty as an example of Illinois's commitment to treating all individuals with dignity and respect.

Diaz herself was amazed when she learned that her artwork had made it to Rome and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share her gift with a global audience. For her, art has been a source of healing and empowerment during her time behind bars, allowing her to express herself creatively and find solace in a place that can often feel negative.

The "Art Is Healing" program aims to provide incarcerated individuals with access to artistic tools and opportunities for self-expression, helping them cope with the challenges of incarceration. Diaz's story serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of art and its ability to bring hope and redemption to even the most difficult circumstances.

I'm lovin' this! Who knew that a drawing from an inmate could make such a big impact? It's like, we gotta give props to Yesenia for keepin' it real and expressin' herself in a way that brings hope to others. And can you blame Pope Leo XIV for bein' moved by her story? It's like, we're all human beings, regardless of where we come from or what our circumstances are.

And let's talk about the "Art Is Healing" program - it's like, totally genius! Providing a creative outlet for people in prison can do wonders for their mental health and well-being. It's not just about makin' art, it's about findin' your voice and bein' able to express yourself in a positive way.

We gotta keep spreadin' the word about this program and supportin' initiatives like it. Maybe one day we can have more Yesenia Diazs out there, creatin' beauty and bringin' light to dark places.

OH MY GOSH, THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING STORY!!! yesenia diaz is an inspiration, i mean who would have thought that someone in prison could create such a beautiful piece of art?! it's like she took all her pain and turned it into something positive and uplifting. the fact that governor pritzker and his wife saw her artwork and were moved by it is just incredible

I'm literally blown away by this! An inmate's artwork is being shared on a global scale because someone saw the good in it... it's all about breaking down stigmas around incarceration & rehabilitation. MK Pritzker, you're doing some amazing work with "Art Is Healing" program

I think this is such an amazing story ! It's incredible that Yesenia's artwork was able to break through to the Pope and touch his heart , it just goes to show how powerful art can be in bringing people together and sharing a message of hope. I mean, who would have thought that something created by someone behind bars could make such a big impact? It's a testament to the human spirit and the healing power of creativity . And it's not just Yesenia's story, but also an example of how Governor Pritzker and his wife MK are using their platform to spread positivity and support for people in need . I think we can all learn from this and appreciate the impact that one person's artwork can have on others .

This is so amazing! I mean, can you imagine getting a letter from someone on the other side of the world just because they liked your artwork? Yesenia's story is really inspiring, it shows that no matter where we are or what our situation is, art has the power to bring people together and give us hope. The whole "Art Is Healing" program sounds like a great initiative too , it's amazing how something as simple as drawing can be such a powerful tool for healing and self-expression. I'm glad that MK Pritzker chose Yesenia's artwork to present to the Pope, it's a beautiful gesture of kindness and respect . And let's not forget about Yesenia herself, she's been through so much but still manages to find joy in creating something beautiful

Man, can you believe it? Some girl from Illinois gets her art seen by the Pope! I mean, Yesenia Diaz's drawing is beautiful, but what really gets me is that she was in jail for 33 years and now her art is bringing hope to people all around the world. It's like, she was making this masterpiece while serving time, just trying to hold on to her sanity... and then these guys from Illinois come along and are like "Yo, we got your back!"

I'm all for rehabilitation programs, but this one takes the cake. The fact that MK Pritzker started an art contest specifically for incarcerated people is genius. I mean, who knew that a simple drawing could be so powerful? It's like, it gives you chills just thinking about it... what does the future hold for Yesenia Diaz now?

This is so inspiring! I mean, think about it - an incarcerated person from Illinois gets her artwork seen by the Pope himself ... it's like a ripple effect of kindness and compassion. The fact that Governor Pritzker and his wife were looking for something beautiful to give to the Pope just goes to show how much love and care they're putting into their community.

And can you imagine the message that Diaz's drawing must have conveyed? Like, she was stuck in this dark place but found a way to rise above it through art ... it's so powerful. We need more people doing what MK Pritzker is doing - finding ways to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

It's also crazy how far the "Art Is Healing" program has come . I mean, who would've thought that an incarcerated person from Illinois would get her art seen by a world leader? It just goes to show that everyone deserves a chance to express themselves and share their story

OMG this is like so amazing Yesenia's artwork is literally a masterpiece I mean, can you even imagine being incarcerated and creating something that brings hope & healing to others? it's truly inspiring! The "Art Is Healing" program sounds like an incredible resource for people in prison - I wish we had more initiatives like this in our communities

I dont no how people make art in prison but it shows that they still got feelings and dreams inside them...it's like, yesenia is stuck in that place but she finds a way to express herself through art and makes something beautiful out of it. it's like, we see the darkness but then we see this light and its like, hope isnt lost even when people are locked up.

I'm blown away by this story ! It just goes to show that everyone deserves a chance to showcase their talents, regardless of their situation in life. Yesenia's artwork is truly beautiful and powerful . I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be for someone who's been through what she's been through to have her art appreciated by people like the Pritzkers. It's amazing that MK saw something special in her drawing and chose to share it with the Pope . We should all be celebrating the "Art Is Healing" program, as it's giving people like Yesenia a chance to heal, express themselves, and find hope again .

that's so inspiring , I mean Yesenia's story is like wow, from doing something bad to finding a way to heal through art... it's just amazing . I wish more people knew about programs like that in the US too, we could use more of this kind of support for folks behind bars . Anyway, I'm glad Pope Leo XIV got to see her drawing and appreciated its message, it's not every day you hear about art bringing hope to someone in a tough situation .

I'm literally blown away by this! Who would have thought that an artwork created in prison could touch the Pope's heart? Yesenia Diaz's story is truly inspiring, and it's amazing how art can be a source of healing and empowerment, even in the darkest places . It makes me realize that we should never give up on people, no matter what they've done or where they come from . I think this is such an important reminder of the power of art to bring hope and redemption to our lives . And can you imagine having the governor's wife as your friend? MK Pritzker sounds like an amazing person!

I'm not surprised they'd fall for that drawing . I mean, who wouldn't be moved by a story about someone finding freedom in an unlikely place? It's actually kinda beautiful, but at the same time it's hard not to think about what led Yesenia Diaz to that point... 33 years for murder, though - that's just crazy long .