{
  "id": 19287638,
  "title": "Larger-than-life Leo statue awaits the pope on Peru's Pacific coast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/larger-than-life-leo-statue-awaits-the-pope-on-perus-pacific-coast-19287638",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T05:20:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/11/1574566/larger-life-leo-statue-awaits-pope-perus-pacific-coast"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LIMA: Ahead of Pope Leo's final leg of his South American tour, a towering white statue of the pontiff was unveiled on Monday in Callao, Peru. The 14-meter monument, dubbed the world's tallest sculpture of a pope, depicts Leo with his arms stretched wide, wearing flowing white robes. This is the first US-born pope to visit the country, and his arrival is expected to be met with a large crowd eager to welcome him home. The 71-year-old pope, who spent years as a missionary in South America, has used the trip to call for greater unity among a politically divided region and to address social, economic, and environmental issues. The 29-year-old Natalia Moran, who attended the inauguration, wore a T-shirt with an image of the pontiff and the message \"Welcome home, Pope Leo.\" The statue, made of steel, fibreglass, and resin, took just 45 days to complete. Sculptors Rafael Gutiérrez and Deyvi Wong aimed to capture every minute detail of Leo's face, studying close-up photographs to ensure accuracy. The monument stands in a seaside park overlooking the city, transmitting a message of peace to the people of Callao, a port city grappling with violent crime. Leo's visit to Peru, which includes large masses in Lima and Chiclayo, is expected to boost tourism in the country. Another Leo statue already stands in Chiclayo, where the pontiff remains fondly remembered from his time as a bishop.",
  "summary": "LIMA: Before Pope Leo reaches Peru later this week, a larger-than-life version is already waiting for him on the Pacific shore.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Larger-than-life Leo statue awaits the pope on Peru’s Pacific coast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/larger-than-life-leo-statue-awaits-the-pope-on-perus-pacific-coast",
        "published": "2026-11-10T00:29:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}