Paraguay: Corn and coconuts for an altar worthy of a Pope
(Vatican Radio) Linda Bordoni is currently in Paraguay’s capital Asunciòn reporting on the Apostolic visit of Pope Francis. She went to take a look at the unusal altar that’s already in place at Nu Guazu where Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate the last Holy Mass of his three country journey on Latin American soil.
Listen to Linda Bordoni’s report from Asunciòn on the unusual maize and coconut altar prepared for Pope Francis’ Sunday mass at Nu Guazu:
Some 32.000 corn cobs, 200.000 baby coconuts, pumpkins, gourds, squashes and seeds of all shapes, sizes and colours are the proud protagonists of the amazing altar at which Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on Sunday.
The artist, Koki Ruiz, a much beloved personality in Paraguay, has used the fruits of his fertile land where agriculture is the main pillar of the economy to create a veritable vegetable masterpiece.
To the left of a central column with the cross and the Papal symbols, a portrait of St. Francis with a dove; on the right, the austere face of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Both of them worthy – and highly symbolic – witnesses of Pope Francis’ last Mass before he wraps up his moving journey to three Latin American nations.
Witnesses and protagonists of the much awaited event at Nu Guazu are also the hundreds of ordinary Paraguayans who flocked to the altar as it was being set up to write a name and a prayer on the tiny coconut shells that make up the green coloured parts of the altar which is as fragile, diverse and beautiful as the land it was born from.
For Vatican Radio, in Asuncion, I’m Linda Bordoni.