Statue Hermano Pedro - La Laguna

This sculpture was made by the Immaculate artist Serrano Sanz , commissioned by the municipal council of La Laguna in honor of the canonization of this saint from Vilaflor (Tenerife), proclaimed by Pope John Paul II on February 26, 2002 in Guatemala.

Pedro Hermano was a Franciscan tertiary religious and Spanish missionary, founder of the Order of the Bethlemites. He was born in Vilaflor, on the island of Tenerife (Spain), on March 21, 1626.

He was the founder of the first hospital for convalescents and the first public school for children and adults where, in the context of Spanish America in the 17th century, no distinction was made on the basis of race or gender: boys and girls, whites, Indians , blacks and mestizos could go to school equally. He was also the initiator of a movement of hospitality for foreigners, priests and students.

He is the first native saint of the Canary Islands. He is considered one of the most important historical figures in the history of the Canary Islands

He was beatified in 1980 in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and canonized in Guatemala City in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.

Willem Vandenameele