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

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…