St Josephine Bakhita sculpture
St Josephine Bakhita sculpture displayed in St Peter’s Square on 6 Feb 2022
A statue of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the patron of human trafficking victims, will be displayed in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Feb. 6.
The bronze sculpture, a piece by Catholic artist Timothy P. Schmalz, is dedicated to trafficking victims and to all women, especially the religious sisters who work to free women from modern day slavery.
The artwork depicts the saint, herself once a slave, freeing a mass of people from underground. It will arrive at the Vatican ahead of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on Feb. 8.
The 10-foot model is identical to multiple 20-foot versions of the sculpture, which will be installed in Europe, Canada, and the United States. After Feb. 6, the smaller Bakhita statue will be displayed in the Diocese of Rome.
Source: Catholic News Agency (CNA)