Peru City to Build Giant Statue of Pope Leo XIV

The Peruvian port city of Callao plans to erect a 14-m-tall statue of Pope Leo XIV to commemorate his social commitment to the city, according to the website katholisch.de.

The monument is expected to be completed before the Pope's visit to Peru in November. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, served in the country for approximately 20 years, first as a missionary and later as a bishop.

From 2020 to 2021, as Bishop of Chiclayo, he also temporarily led the Diocese of Callao. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he organized food distribution there, among other initiatives. This will not be the first statue of Leo XIV in Peru.

Last November, the city of Chiclayo unveiled a roughly 6-m-tall statue of the pope made of white plastic. Leo XIV is scheduled to return to Peru during a South American tour from 6 to 17 November, which will also include visits to Uruguay and Argentina.

(mja)