Symbolic Gifts Presented to Pope Leo XIV in Santa Cruz
The Ayuntamiento of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has presented Pope Leo XIV with several symbolic gifts upon his arrival in the capital before the large mass he officiated at the port. These included a scale replica of the Foundational Cross of Santa Cruz, a handcrafted figure of a cayuco, and a letter crafted by Year 6 students from the Hispano Inglés school.
A Replica of the Foundational Cross
The main gift was a scale model of the Foundational Cross of Santa Cruz, a significant emblem of the city and a symbol of its origins. Standing approximately 30 centimetres tall, the piece was made of silver using traditional jewellery techniques and 3D scanning technology. It was specially created for the occasion after an intensive two-week effort by several local companies, as reported by the council.
“We wanted to welcome Santa Cruz with an element that represents our origins, which named our city 532 years ago,” stated Bermúdez, adding that the gift is now part of the history of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Tenerife capital.
The Technical Process
The council explains that the reproduction of the Foundational Cross required a complex technical process. It involved high-precision three-dimensional scanning of the original cross, capturing every detail of the wood, silver pieces, reliefs, inscriptions, and marks of time. The digital model was then adapted to a smaller version and manufactured using micro-casting techniques in silver.
Due to the complexity of the piece, the replica was assembled from several components that were manually joined by skilled artisans. The project was a collaborative effort involving the Canary Islands firms iLoveTheWorld, Garhem3D, and Al Zahra Joyeros Artesanos, with contributions from master jeweller Rafael Molina.
A Letter and a Cayuco
In addition to this institutional gift, Bermúdez presented the Holy Father with a letter penned by Year 6 students from the Hispano Inglés school, representing children from educational institutions within the municipality.
Moreover, the students aimed to convey a special message to the Pontiff through a handcrafted figure of a cayuco, which symbolises the migration phenomenon affecting the Canary Islands. This issue has been prominent on the agenda during the papal visit to the archipelago.
Through this gift, the children expressed values such as hope, solidarity, hospitality, and support for those arriving on the islands in search of a better life.
