Pope Leo XIV hasn't set foot in Peru yet, but in Lima, someone already looks remarkably like him. His hyperrealistic double is turning heads in the capital, where passersby stop to take a closer look.
The artist behind the replica is Walt Wizard, a sculptor who specializes in hyperrealism. His workshop brings together a diverse cast of characters, from Maradona, Bruce Lee and Hulk Hogan to Jesus of Nazareth.
WALT WIZARD
Sculptor
Pope Leo XIV was part of a project for the bicentennial of my country's independence. And I wanted to... make a figure who could genuinely unite Peruvians, someone we could feel proud of.
But bringing the pope to life required more than pictures. Wizard got the chance to meet him at the Vatican, with his own 'boss' by his side: a silicone version of the pontiff.
WALT WIZARD
Sculptor
I could see genuine amazement in his eyes. He allowed me to take pictures, and I got to explain that this hyperrealistic figure was a way of bringing people's hearts closer to Christ. When I finally met him, I could see him right there in front of me. I could see how tall he was and get a closer look at his facial features.
It took roughly six months to create the figure. Made with medical-grade silicone, it features lifelike wrinkles, pores and veins, along with hair implanted one strand at a time.
That same painstaking craftsmanship can be seen in Wizard's other papal figures, including John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.
WALT WIZARD
Sculptor
I'd love to present him with statues of Saint Rose, Saint Martin and Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. These are figures Pope Leo has followed very closely. He's coming to close the Jubilee Year of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, a Spanish-born priest who came to Peru and carried out a very important mission.
During his trip to Peru, Pope Leo XIV will take part in the closing of the Jubilee Year of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. Perhaps the perfect opportunity for the pope and his double to meet for the very first time.
