A gift of historical value and dedication will accompany the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Canary Islands. Eight artisans from the municipality of Ingenio, Gran Canaria, have invested over 1,400 hours of work across nearly two and a half months to create a personalized altar cloth, alb, and stole.

The creation was carried out against a tight deadline, employing the centuries-old Ingenio lacework technique. This commission from the Government of the Canary Islands has brought great pride to the Association of Caladoras Villa de Ingenio. "It has been a privilege that they have bet on a centuries-old artisanal craft supported by an entire town," explained Obdulia Artiles, secretary of the association, on the program ‘Herrera en COPE Canarias’.

The centerpiece is an altar cloth measuring 3.25 meters long by 2.45 meters wide, with dimensions specified by the Vatican. For its creation, a 200-year-old lacework stitch, passed down through generations of artisans, has been revived. Figures such as Candela Martín González, Adela Hernández Artiles, and Aurora Cruz Vega have been key in preserving this technique.

In addition to a cross, the cloth incorporates two Canarian 'pintaderas', symbols of the archipelago's cultural heritage, thus representing the identity of the Canary Islands. "We hope it will be displayed in the Vatican for a long time," stated Artiles.

The set is completed by a liturgical alb, made with a stitch known as ‘Puerta Iglesia’ (Church Door). The artisans spent 15 hours solely preparing the fabric for the loom. The personalized stole features the hand-embroidered initials ‘SS Papa León 14’.

This project also serves as a statement for living tradition. The craft is kept alive thanks to the schools of the association Coros y Danzas de Ingenio, where traditional craftsmanship is taught, ensuring the continuation of the Ingenio lacework legacy.