The statue commemorating Pope John Paul II's visit to Madeira was inaugurated on October 16, 1995, next to the Legislative Assembly of the Region. The work is by master Lagoa Henriques.
Thousands of faithful attended the ceremony, which aimed to mark the Holy Father's visit to the island three years prior. The inauguration date, October 16, was chosen because it coincided with Pope John Paul II's election day in 1978.
At the time, D. Teodoro Faria highlighted the Pope's missionary vocation, calling his visit the most important historical moment for the Diocese. Alberto João Jardim praised the statue's location, which has since been relocated to the courtyard of the Sé Cathedral.
