Tượng Đức Bà Hòa Bình Statue

What does peace look like to you? Here, in front of the Tượng Đức Bà Hòa Bình statue, that question takes on a special significance. This towering statue of the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Peace, stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring faith of the Vietnamese people. The Tượng Đức Bà Hòa Bình statue has a fascinating backstory. In 1959, the Catholic community in Vietnam celebrated the centenary of the apparition of Mary at Lourdes. As part of the celebration, they commissioned a statue of Our Lady of Peace. The statue, made of white Carrara marble and standing over 4 meters tall, was created by Italian sculptor G. Ciocchetti. It arrived in Saigon in February 1959 and was placed in front of the Saigon Cathedral, now known as Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. Cardinal Gregorio Pietro Agagianian, the Papal legate to the Marian Congress in Saigon, blessed the statue on February 16, 1959. It quickly became a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Vietnamese Catholics and a symbol of peace amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War. Today, the Tượng Đức Bà Hòa Bình statue remains an important symbol of faith and hope for the Vietnamese people. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, peace is possible. As you stand here, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and serenity of the statue. Let it serve as a reminder that peace begins within each of us and that we all have a role to play in creating a more peaceful world.