The North End Christopher Columbus statue has now been permanently relocated to the Peace Garden at St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish in the North End. The IAA wishes to extend a very special thank you to St. Leonard's pastor, Fr. Michael Della Penna, OFM, the Knights of Columbus, and all those involved with protecting this beautiful work of art honoring a man of great faith, courage, and conviction!

Thanks to their efforts and generosity, the Columbus Statue once again has a permanent and safe home in the North End, where it is proudly and publicly displayed for all to enjoy. One million people visit the Peace Garden every year.

It is fitting that the Columbus statue will make it's home at a parish staffed by Franciscan friars. Fr. Della Penna draws our attention to some facts about Columbus as laid out by Christine Valentine-Owsik writing for Legatus: “Christopher Columbus was a secular Franciscan who took Franciscan friars with him on his voyages. He went to confession regularly, had love for the Real Presence and had devotion to Mary. In the 1870s, a number of Fathers of the First Vatican Council proposed Columbus’ canonization – not only because he introduced Christianity to the New World, but because of his character and virtue. Columbus’ discovery is indeed extraordinary, but opening up two American continents to Christianity has been called the greatest evangelistic feat since the days of St. Paul. He was a man of deep piety – attending daily Mass at a convent chapel in Italy, where he met his first wife, Donna Phillipa. His ship men maintained daily prayer, and his son Fernando noted specially: “He was so strict in matters of religion…that he might have been taken for a member of a religious order.”

Then there are Columbus’ own writings. His Book of Prophecies, scarcely mentioned by biographers, was begun in 1502 after his third voyage to America. He cites Scripture at length, following God’s will, and extending Catholicism afar. In 1491, one year before discovery of America, Spain was finally liberated from 700 years of Muslim domination – and Columbus’ voyage-journal reveals his aim to surpass Islam with spread of Christianity.

As early as 1493, he wrote to the Royal Treasurer of Spain, calling discovery of the New World a great victory – but not in the typical sense. Rather, Columbus says: “Since our Redeemer gave this victory to our most illustrious King and Queen … it is fitting for all Christendom to rejoice … and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity … for the great exultation it will have and the turning of so many peoples to our holy Faith."”

The full article can be read here: Columbus – Apostle to the Americas.

In recent years, Christopher Columbus has been unfairly scapegoated and smeared with false accusations in order to assassinate his character, all to serve the political ends of current day extremists.