The gift, consisting of 53 hand-turned beads, symbolizes Mogán's fertility and the strength of the Canary people. The pontiff's visit to Gran Canaria will include a meeting at the Arguineguín pier, where he will receive this unique piece created by local artisan Doramas Hernández.
The initiative came from Mogán's mayor, Onalia Bueno, who proposed the creation of a special gift to the artisan. Hernández, despite his busy schedule, accepted the commission, considering it a historic and unrepeatable opportunity.
Every detail of the rosary holds meaning. The Ave Maria beads are made from avocado wood, an emblematic tree of Mogán representing fertility. The six main beads and the cross, crafted from 'tea' (the most resistant part of the Canary pine), symbolize the strength and resilience of the Canary people.
The creation process, which took approximately one week, involved hand-turning, sanding, and assembling the 53 beads. The artisan overcame the challenge of obtaining a specific drill bit to pierce the beads, sourcing it through contacts on the mainland.
“"When will there ever be another chance for the Pope to come to the Canary Islands, and specifically to Mogán, and for me to have the opportunity to make something for him with my own hands?"
The rosary will be presented in an avocado wood box, also made by Hernández, which includes a pyrography with the date, delivery location, and the creator's signature.
Beyond its institutional value, the work holds a deeply personal dimension for the artisan, who dedicates it to his newborn daughter as a memento of his craft.
In addition to the rosary, the Mogán City Council will present the pontiff with a painting by artist Marcelo Mellino focusing on the migratory phenomenon, and the book 'Solo León' by Nadia Jiménez, dedicated to the Pope's career.
