North Carolina glass artist Jon Kuhn and his representative, Al Priest, president of Salem Stained Glass, have been granted a September 29 audience with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome to present the gift of a radiant Kuhn cross to the Pontiff. The 32 1/2 x 19-inch work of art contains 15,000 facets of clear optical grade crystal and symbolizes the Light of God. The center of the cross is tinged with crimson to represent the Sacred Heart. (CLICK HERE for related article.)

Acknowledgment of the gift was made on April 28 by the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, during a preview presentation by Kuhn and Priest of the cross at the Apostolic Nunciature (embassy) in Washington, D.C.

According to Kuhn, the Archbishop’s reaction on seeing the cross for the first time was “immediate. He got it right away.” Kuhn added that he heard the archbishop remark that he thought the Pope will be very pleased “and would want to use it in his Masses.”

In an email to friends and patrons the next day, Kuhn wrote that he was “honored and humbled” by the experience.

The cross that will be presented to Pope Benedict is the first of a variety of Kuhn crystal crosses designed and created by the artist under an agreement between Kuhn Studio and Salem Stained Glass for the marketing of Kuhn Sacred Glass. Kuhn Sacred Glass includes crystal crosses and other religious objects created by Kuhn as well as stained glass windows inset with Kuhn’s jewel-like glass that are created by Salem Stained Glass owner Al Priest and his artists.