On the occasion of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, the Fabbrica di San Pietro commissioned the artist to create the statue of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, which would be placed within a niche of the left transept on the south façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The niche that now houses the sculpture by the Costa Rican artist was designed between 1544 and 1564 by the Renaissance sculptor and architect Michelangelo Buonarroti. The statue was unveiled on September 20, 2000, in the presence of Pope John Paul II. Deredia thus became the first non-European artist to be present at the fulcrum of Christendom.