A 45-foot statue of Pope Leo XIV is unveiled in Peru in time for his arrival

By Walter Sánchez Silva
EWTN News

The provincial municipality of Callao in Peru has unveiled a monumental 14-meter (45-foot)-tall statue of Pope Leo XIV, the tallest statue dedicated to a pontiff in Peru.

The statue is located in the new Niño Gaelito Park, named in honor of Jesús Gael Alejandro Rodríguez, a 4-year-old boy who died while rescuing his sister during a fire in March.

The figure has a 12-meter (39-foot) metal framework and is constructed from polyurethane foam, fiberglass, and polyester resin, with a finish that resembles marble. The statue itself stands 12 meters (13 feet) tall and is set upon a 2-meter (6-foot) pedestal.

It was created by sculptors Deyvi Wong Arana and Rafael Gutiérrez Quispe.

“This sculpture expresses the pride, gratitude, and faith of the people of Callao for someone whose evangelizing efforts made a profound impact in our diocese,” the municipality stated on its Facebook page.

The unveiling ceremony was led by Callao’s mayor, Cesar Pérez, who was accompanied by Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera Pacheco of Callao and Monsignor Guillermo Inca Pereda, deputy secretary of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference and national coordinator for Pope Leo’s visit to Peru.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Jorge Guillermo Solís Espinoza, president of Caja Huancayo, the institution that funded the project, and the governor-elect of Callao, Pedro Spadaro.

“We are just about to welcome the Holy Father to Peru! Callao awaits him with open arms and a heart full of faith,” the municipality stated.

In Peru, Pope Leo XIV served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and as apostolic administrator of Callao from 2020 to 2021. He also served as the second vice president of the bishops’ conference from 2018 to 2023.

The Holy Father begins his visit to Peru on Wednesday, Nov. 11, where he will be welcomed by President Keiko Fujimori. He will then hold an audience with her at the Government Palace before addressing officials at the Grand National Theater.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.