The most famous scene in the Sistine Chapel is The Creation of Adam. Part of Michelangelo's ceiling paintings, the fresco depicts God giving life to Adam.

The most famous scene in the Sistine Chapel is The Creation of Adam. Part of Michelangelo's ceiling paintings, the fresco depicts God giving life to Adam.

The Vatican has closed the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather for the conclave to elect the next pope after the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88.

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with art historian Kim Butler about the artwork that adorns the walls of the Sistine Chapel and its significance ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, ... AIROLDI: The ceiling, Michelangelo's ceiling, with the most famous scene, the creation of Adam in the image of God. FRAYER: ...

Father Bruno Silvestrini, Custodian of the Apostolic sacred sites, shuts the door of the Sistine Chapel at the end of the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ahead of his meeting with ...

Plinio Lepri. FILE - This Dec. 10, 1999 file photo shows Michelangelo's fresco "La Creazione" ("The Creation") on the ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

FILE – Tables and chairs line the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in preparation for the conclave, on April 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, File) But the church is at the same time turning ...

The conclave will be held in the Sistine Chapel, under a ceiling of Michelangelo's frescoes. This week, I snagged one of the last tickets to go inside that famous chapel before the College of ...

FILE – Tables and chairs line the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in preparation for the conclave, on April 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, File) But the church is at the same time turning ...

The Vatican has closed the Sistine Chapel, ... The most recognizable is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, showing God’s outstretched hand imparting the divine spark of life to the first man.