Peru Unveils World's Tallest Pope Leo Statue

Callao, Peru, unveiled a nearly 46-foot statue of Pope Leo XIV ahead of his arrival, describing it as the world’s tallest sculpture of a pontiff. Made of steel, fiberglass and resin, the statue depicts Leo in white vestments with outstretched arms and was created by local artists Rafael Gutiérrez and Deyvi Wong. Leo arrived in Lima to a jubilant welcome, with the Vatican estimating that about three million people lined his motorcade route; he called Peru his “homeland” and said it had shaped him as a pastor. He spent more than two decades in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop, became a Peruvian citizen in 2015, and met President Keiko Fujimori during the visit. Peru was the final stop of his three-country South American tour.