An institutional gift of great symbolic and artisanal value will accompany Pope Leo XIV during his upcoming visit to the Canary Islands on June 11 and 12. Eight craftswomen from the Association of Lacemakers of Ingenio (ACVI) have invested approximately 1,400 hours in creating a personalized altar cloth, alb, and stole, which will be presented to the pontiff. The creation of these pieces, which required the purchase of specific fabric in Madrid, was commissioned by the Government of the Canary Islands.
Obdulia Artiles, secretary of ACVI, highlighted the "incalculable value" of these garments, considering them a "symbol of Canarian craftsmanship" and a "maximum hallmark" for the municipality of Ingenio. This project not only enhances a centuries-old art but also showcases the work of craft schools, the support of FEDAC and the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, and the legacy passed down through generations of lacemakers.
The centerpiece is an altar cloth measuring 3.25 meters long by 2.45 meters wide, made with high-quality thread using the complex "caracol zurcido de pico" technique, with nearly 200 years of history. Alongside the cross, it incorporates Canarian symbols such as two pintaderas (circular and triangular) and traditional lacework. The alb uses "aironado" and "puerta iglesia" lacework, while the personalized stole features the inscription ‘SS Papa’ and ‘León XIV’, along with other types of needlework like rehilo and estrellita.
“"I will try to keep this here, so that it remains in the cathedral for all life and all history."
The Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos, has expressed his admiration for the work, calling it a "jewel" and stating his desire for the altar cloth to remain "in the cathedral for all life and all history," as a historical legacy. Mazuelos has assured that he will try to ensure the piece stays in the Cathedral of the Canary Islands.
Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the Government of the Canary Islands, thanked the association for its "generosity" and "commitment," emphasizing that the pieces "speak of our people, of our artisan women, of the transmission of knowledge, of the identity of a people." Bishop Mazuelos confirmed that the altar cloth will be used in the mass that the Pope will offer at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, an event that will capture global attention on this "jewel from Ingenio."
