Pope Francis blesses sculpture ‘Let the Oppressed go Free’

In preparation for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, 8 February, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, Pope Francis will bless a 2 metre replica of Tim Schmalz’s magnificent sculpture ‘Let the Oppressed go Free,’ at St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican, Rome on Sunday 6 February .

This sculpture joins another sculpture created at the request of Pope Francis, by Tim Schmalz, entitled ”Angels Unaware, ” based on Hebrews 13:2  ”Be welcoming to strangers…’

The ‘Angels Unaware’ sculpture was installed in St. Peter’s Square in September 2019 and manifests a colossal boat, packed with 100 migrants/refugees, with an angel in their midst as indicated by the presence of wings amongst the occupants of the boat.

The replica sculpture of ‘Let the Oppressed go Free’ is an exact re-presentation of the original and makes for a more easily transportable model to raise awareness about human trafficking and invite humankind to collaborate to end this crime against humanity.

To hear Timothy Schmalz talk about his sculpture:

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