Female inmates in Peru make Pope Leo XIV dolls ahead of papal visit

LIMA, PERU - OCT. 30, 2026: Female inmates at the Santa Mónica Penitentiary Center in Lima, Peru, are making dolls and jewelry featuring Pope Leo XIV ahead of his planned visit to the Peruvian capital on Nov. 11.

The inmates aim to produce 1,000 dolls depicting the pontiff, formerly known as Robert Prevost, to be sold to the public.

The initiative is part of the National Penitentiary Institute's (INPE) "Productive Prisons" program, which aims to develop inmates' vocational skills, support their families and facilitate their social reintegration.