A five-meter-tall statue weighing half a ton dedicated to Pope Leo XIV is in the final preparations for its inauguration in Chiclayo, in northern Peru. The work seeks to pay homage to the current pontiff, who is closely linked to this city after having exercised his ministry there as a bishop before being called to Rome by Pope Francis.
“This monument symbolizes the gratitude of the people of Lambayeque to the Holy Father for his message of love, hope, and unity,” declared to the state agency Andina the regional manager of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Félix Mío Sánchez. “We want this sculpture to be an icon of faith and hospitality. With his smile, Pope Leo XIV will welcome tourists who arrive to enjoy our gastronomy, beaches, museums, and nature,” he added.
The figure shows the Pope with a serene expression and open smile, the right palm extended forward, in a gesture of blessing and welcome. It is the first large-format sculpture dedicated to Leo XIV, entirely made of fiberglass and resin, materials resistant to the coastal climate.
A project of local art and devotion
The author of the work, the plastic artist Juan Carlos Ñañake, led along with a team of six local sculptors the creation and installation of the piece, mounted on an additional two-meter pedestal. “It has been a huge challenge. It is the first time we have made a five-meter-tall sculpture. We feel proud to contribute to sacred art and regional tourism,” Ñañake stated in various media.
The statue will be located at one of the main accesses to Chiclayo, and it will be the first of three sculptures that will integrate the so-called “Papal Walk”, a thematic corridor dedicated to the current pontiff, which will also include cultural activities and family meeting spaces.
The route includes other significant places in the Pope’s episcopal life, such as Piura, La Libertad, and the Callao, where he also served as bishop before being appointed by Pope Francis as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a position he held when he was elected successor of Peter.