THE mother of all churches, cathedrals, and basilicas in the Philippines will house the “Homeless Jesus” statue with no less than Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula set to bless it on Palm Sunday.
In a statement, the Manila Cathedral announced that the donated statue created by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz will be unveiled near the church’s facade before the 10 a.m. Mass on April 10.
“The realistic statue of a homeless Jesus outside the Manila Cathedral can hopefully inspire reflection and conversations on how we care for the poor and homeless in the community,” said the Manila Cathedral.
“May this sculpture not only become a place for visits or pictures, but a space to deepen our prayer, and to convert and change our hearts,” it added.
It noted how no less than Pope Francis has seen the sculpture as a challenge to the prevailing “throwaway” culture that ignores and abuses the poor and the voiceless people.
“As we look at Jesus, who is homeless, may we also see the poor who, according to Pope Francis, pay the price of corruption,” said the Manila Cathedral.
The Homeless Jesus is a three-dimensional sculpture cast in bronze that depicts Jesus, identifiable by the wounds on his feet, sleeping on a street bench wrapped in a blanket.
“It became somewhat ‘viral’ because it portrayed Jesus in a relatable human context allowing people to feel a greater closeness with and accessibility to Christ,” noted the Manila Cathedral.
Currently, replicas of the statue are located at various churches, cathedrals, and other prominent urban locations in Buenos Aires, Capernaum, New York, Madrid, Melbourne, Rome, Singapore, and the Vatican.
