Italy’s Vatican Opens Dialogue on Religious Tattoos

For centuries, Catholic authorities discouraged tattooing. But in Rome, the Vatican has begun talks with scholars and priests about recognizing tattoos as valid expressions of faith.
Pilgrims have historically tattooed crosses and saints on their bodies — especially in Jerusalem — and younger Catholics are reviving this practice. A small Vatican art exhibit is now displaying Christian tattoos through history, sparking global debate about tradition versus modernity.