Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan has launched a new project: a hotline and WhatsApp service inviting the public to confess their sins. The project, timed to coincide with the Easter period and the 21st anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death, will culminate in a livestream on April 23 where Cattelan will offer a form of symbolic absolution to selected participants. Alongside the hotline, he is releasing a limited edition of 666 small-scale replicas of his controversial 1999 sculpture, *The Ninth Hour*, which depicts the late pope struck by a meteorite.
This project continues Cattelan's signature blend of religious iconography, dark humor, and provocation, challenging traditional institutions and inviting public participation. It highlights the evolving reception of his work, noting a shift from past controversies—such as the backlash in Poland—to a more accepted status, evidenced by his 2024 invitation to contribute to the Vatican's Venice Biennale exhibition. The initiative aims to make contemporary art more accessible, both through collectible editions and direct public engagement, while exploring universal themes of confession and absolution beyond a strictly religious context.