A documentary · Chiclayo, Peru

Papa León Comes Home

A Kansas earthworks artist, a Chiclayo priest, and a city preparing to welcome its Pope home.

Help us bring this story to life.

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Stan Herd and Father Cesar walking the boardwalk at Pimentel

October 15

Stan Herd began production of the earthwork

November 6–11

Film production in Chiclayo

November 10

Stan Herd reveals the portrait of Pope Leo in tile and stone

February 2027

The film is finished

Two gifts

On November 13, Pope Leo XIV returns to Chiclayo, Peru, the city he served as bishop for eight years, before the world knew his name. Close to a million people are expected at the Mass on the coast at Pimentel.

This film follows two gifts being made for his homecoming, and the life-changing impact he’s had on a young priest who served alongside him.

Aerial mock-up of the round tile-and-stone portrait of Pope Leo XIV set into the lawn — A mock-up of the finished portrait, seen from the air.

A portrait in the earth

Kansas earthworks artist Stan Herd is setting a portrait of Papa León, as Chiclayo calls him, into the ground in tile and stone. It is the first earthwork he has ever built in tile.

Father Cesar pointing out across the city, with Louis beside him — Father Cesar, Chiclayo.

A gift from a friend

Father Cesar, who worked beside the future Pope in Chiclayo for years, is preparing a gift for his old friend.

Between them is the city itself: the streets where Leo was loved long before he was famous.

“The world’s looking for a good story. They’re tired of all the bad stories. We have a story.”

Stan Herd

Who’s making it

Stan Herd

Earthworks artist

His portraits and landscapes are planted, cut and laid into the land at a scale best seen from the air. He has built pieces for Spotify, Oreo and the White House, and his work has been covered by NPR, CBS and The New York Times.

Aerial of an earthwork reading Ohio Not For Sale — **Ohio Is Not For Sale to Data Centers**
Ohio, 2026

Aerial of the Oreo earthwork The Offering — **The Offering**
For Oreo

Aerial of the America United earthwork — **America United**
Presidential Inauguration parade

Aerial of the Hot Country Fan Art crop circle — **Hot Country Fan Art**
For Spotify

Resonate Pictures

Lawrence, Kansas

Founded by Marc Havener. Story-driven films honored with four national ADDY Awards and more than 100 festival selections. Marc premiered his short documentary Proof of Life at the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival.

Marc Havener and Ryan Waggoner on the red carpet at the Newport Beach Film Festival — Marc Havener and Ryan Waggoner at the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival.

Support the film

Your support lets us film the creation and reveal of the Pope Leo earthwork, and sit down with Father Cesar to tell the story of Pope Leo’s impact on his life and this community.

$10,000: Executive ProducerExecutive Producer credit in the film.
$5,000: Co-ProducerCo-Producer credit in the film.
$2,500: Associate ProducerAssociate Producer credit in the film.

Credits are limited to five people at each level. Producers can contact Marc Havener at marc@resonatepictures.com for information on tax-deductible giving. Support at any amount is welcome through the GoFundMe page.

Support through GoFundMe →

Funds are received and managed by Stan Herd. This is an independent documentary, not produced or endorsed by the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Chiclayo or the Vatican.

Follow the film

Updates from Chiclayo, the edit and the premiere.

Press

For press inquiries, contact Marc Havener, marc@resonatepictures.com

From Chiclayo

Stan Herd and Father Cesar walking a tree-lined street in Chiclayo — Stan and Father Cesar.

Father Cesar and Stan Herd smiling together in a restaurant — Father Cesar and Stan.

Stan Herd talking with Louis, Jhon and a colleague on a campus lawn — Stan with Louis and Jhon.

Aerial view of the lawn chosen for the portrait — The site, from above.

Stan Herd and Louis meeting with leaders around a conference table — Meeting with leaders in Sipán.

Marc Havener and Father Cesar on a Chiclayo street — Marc and Father Cesar.

Stan Herd looking out the window of a car — Stan, between locations.

Stan Herd and Marc Havener with university leaders outside a campus building — With university leaders.

Stan Herd at a monument in Chiclayo — Stan at a Chiclayo monument.

Stan Herd shows the portrait design on a laptop to Louis and Father Cesar — Stan shares the design.

Marc Havener and Stan Herd in the back of a taxi — Marc and Stan.

Marc Havener, John and Stan Herd in front of a monument — Marc, John and Stan.