It might seem like an odd question. After all, Da Vinci’s Demons is a bold, strange, and often chaotic show—a mashup of Renaissance politics, secret societies, and wild sci-fi inventions. It’s not trying to be historically accurate, and it’s definitely not trying to be religious.
And yet… if we’re paying attention, there are moments. Little flashes. Ideas that reflect something deeper. Something true.
As Catholics, we believe that the human heart always longs for God, even when it doesn’t realize it (see Gaudium et Spes §22). So yes—even in a secular, stylized drama like this—we can sometimes find what the early Church called seeds of the Word.
1. The Book of Leaves: We Want More Than Just Knowledge
At the center of the show is the mysterious Book of Leaves. It’s supposed to contain the ultimate truth—hidden wisdom that could reshape humanity.
Leonardo becomes obsessed with it. For him, it’s about understanding the world—and maybe, understanding himself.
Sound familiar?
We do this too. We want answers. We chase knowledge. But knowledge isn’t enough. At some point, we realize what we’re really looking for is truth with a face—something personal. Something that can love us back.
As Catholics, we know that Truth is a Person: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The real “Book of Leaves” is the Word made flesh—revealed in the Gospels and handed on in the Church.
2. Leonardo’s Genius—and the Weight That Comes With It
Leonardo is brilliant. But his journey is not just about invention—it’s about responsibility. He begins by using his gifts for fame or control. But his creations are used in war, and lives are lost.
From a Catholic perspective, our gifts are for others. Not for self-glory. As Jesus says: “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
3. Lucrezia: A Wounded Soul Seeking Redemption
Lucrezia Donati begins as a Vatican spy—but she’s being blackmailed. She’s conflicted, and ultimately, repentant. She sacrifices herself to protect others.
She evokes Mary Magdalene or the woman caught in adultery: condemned by many, healed by grace.
Pope Francis says the Church is a field hospital. Lucrezia’s story shows that mercy is never off the table.
4. Count Riario: When Faith Becomes a Weapon
Count Riario starts as a religious zealot—but when he realizes the corruption of the Church, he crumbles. His faith was more about power than God.
His arc reminds us: when faith becomes ideology, it loses Christ.
Ironically, Riario is most human when he abandons all causes—when he shows compassion instead of control.
5. Secret Societies, Gnosticism, and the Public Gospel
The show is built around two secret groups: the Sons of Mithras and the Labyrinth. Both are trying to “save” the world through secret knowledge.
This is pure Gnosticism—and it’s exactly what the Church rejects.
Salvation isn’t hidden. It’s public. The Gospel is for all. As the Catechism says, God “wills that all men be saved.”
6. Unfinished Stories, Restless Hearts
The series ends unresolved. The Book of Leaves doesn’t answer everything. That feels frustrating—but also true.
Our hearts are restless because we’re not home yet. As St. Augustine put it: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
The Purpose
Da Vinci’s Demons isn’t religious. It misrepresents Church history. But even in distortion, it reveals a longing—for justice, truth, beauty, and redemption.
We’re called to engage culture with eyes of faith. Even stories wrapped in fantasy may echo the One true Story.
“All truth, wherever it is found, belongs to the Church.”
— St. Justin Martyr
Yes—even da Vinci and his demons can point us toward the One who casts out demons and writes the story that never ends.
About the Author
Aaron Schuck is a Catholic writer and cultural commentator exploring the intersections of faith, art, and media. He believes the Gospel speaks powerfully into every human story—even the ones written in fantasy—and loves helping others see God’s fingerprints in unexpected places.
