Beneath us stretches Quito. We stand at the Cruz del Papa Francisco. It is a sculpture in the Parque Bicentenario. The Cruz del Papa was built to honor Pope Francis’s visit. He held a mass in the park on July 7, 2015. The official opening was on July 4, 2015. Mauricio Rodas, the mayor, attended. Bishop Danilo Echeverría blessed the monument.
Architect Mario Áreas designed the Cruz del Papa. He presented the project to Quito’s Municipality. It cost 220,000 American dollars. The Cruz del Papa is 18 meters tall. It covers 600 square meters. It is made of concrete and aluminum. Steel, porcelain, and tempered glass were also used. Engineers Juan Carlos Chavez and Igor Muñoz built it.
The Cruz del Papa is based on the Cruz de Dozulé. This cross was erected in Normandy in 1972. Madeleine Aumont claimed Jesus asked for it in a vision. She believed it would save the world. Replicas have been built worldwide since.
Áreas made significant changes to the Quito structure. Two arms support the cross. They symbolize humanity praying. Fifteen steel cables anchor it. These represent the fourteen Stations of the Cross. One extra cable represents Jesus’s resurrection. These surround a shallow pool. It has a baptismal font. This represents the birth of Catholicism.
The structure is mostly white. White symbolizes the purity of faith. Nighttime lighting symbolizes blessing. The Cruz del Papa spreads this blessing over Quito.
Another Cruz del Papa stands in Parque La Carolina. It honors Pope John Paul II’s 1985 visit. This cross is 45 meters tall. It is a landmark for locals and tourists. It helps people find their way. The plaza has accessible entrances for disabled people. It also has new lighting.
The Cruz del Papa in Parque La Carolina is a place for events. Religious ceremonies happen here during Holy Week. Cultural events and protests also take place here. In 2025 people marched here for animal rights. They protested a law called LODA. They wore yellow, blue, or red. These are Ecuador’s flag colors. They wanted better animal protection.
Whether at Parque Bicentenario or La Carolina, these crosses stand tall. Each Cruz del Papa is a symbol of faith. They are landmarks of devotion in Quito. They mark papal visits and inspire. They are places of gathering and reflection. Take a moment to appreciate the Cruz del Papa.