A massive mural honoring Pope Francis now towers over the city of La Plata, Argentina, following its inauguration on July 26. Measuring 50 meters high and five meters wide, it is believed to be the largest mural in the world dedicated to the first Argentine Pontiff, according to Zenit.
The hyper-realistic work, painted by renowned Argentine muralist Martin Ron and his team, depicts Pope Francis smiling and extending his arm toward a white dove in mid-flight, a symbol of peace and spirituality. The scene recalls a real-life moment in 2013, shortly after his election as Pope, when a pilgrim in Rome placed a dove in his hand and the bird refused to fly away.
Ron told EFE Agency, as cited by Zenit, that he wanted the mural to be “a posthumous tribute” that connects with the sky. “The chosen image resolves everything: it has a long ribbon, a cross, an arm that emerges from the plane and connects with the sky,” he said, noting the technical challenges of painting on such a tall, vertical wall.
The mural was blessed by Archbishop Gustavo Carrara of La Plata, who expressed the hope that the image of Pope Francis would inspire the city “to work for a culture of encounter” and promote fraternity and social friendship.
La Plata Mayor Julio Alak joined the ceremony alongside municipal authorities, Catholic schools, religious communities, and representatives from cultural, political, and academic institutions. Guest orchestras added music and color to the celebration.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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