A man used construction equipment to drop a heavy boom lift onto a sculpture that has stood for 25 years outside St. Louis’ Cathedral Basilica, causing significant damage, police reported.
The future of the Angel of Harmony, a 14-foot sculpture depicting a Black angel protecting three children of various races, remains uncertain. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch detailed that part of one of the children was broken off, and the angel’s wings appeared damaged.
The motive behind Tuesday night’s vandalism is not yet known, according to police, who have arrested a 35-year-old suspect.
The Angel of Harmony, crafted by Polish sculptor Wiktor Szostalo, was erected in 1999 following Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis. This intricate sculpture features more than 100 wind chimes adorning the angel’s wings, with the children depicted playing musical instruments. The pedestal bears inscriptions from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II, and Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Angel of Harmony has graced the grounds of our city’s Cathedral Basilica since 1999, as a joyful reminder that our diversity is something to be celebrated, that truth, beauty, and goodness unite us all,” stated St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. “We need to be reminded of that daily. We are still learning about the extent of the damage, with great hope that this special sculpture can be restored.”
Police arrived at the grand Catholic cathedral in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood after receiving a call about a man tampering with construction equipment. They discovered the statue had been knocked off its pedestal. The suspect is also believed to have fired a gunshot into an unoccupied car for reasons that remain unclear.
Surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying the suspect. When officers spotted him, he fled. A police dog subsequently located the man hiding a few blocks from the cathedral.
The suspect was charged the following Wednesday with institutional vandalism, two counts of property damage, tampering, unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting arrest.
