In Mexico, a carpenter for three popes awaits Francis

Agustin Parra Echauri at work.

Zapopan, Mexico — Carpenter Agustin Parra Echauri has worked for two pontiffs, and now his employees are busy hand-carving chairs and an altar for Pope Francis, set to arrive in Mexico in February.

The 55-year--old entrepreneur is among a few carpenters tasked with making furniture and other artifacts for the pope's February 12-17 visit.

"It's a great surprise because this means that we will have worked for three popes. We take great pride in this," Parra said.

Working in a brick building in Zapopan, a town outside the western city of Guadalajara, Parra was first approached by Roman Catholic church officials to work for the 1999 visit by Pope John Paul II.

Church officials liked his work, for he was hired again for Pope Benedict XVI's visit in 2012.

His craftsmen are now chiseling and polishing eight objects that will be used during Francis's first visit to Mexico, the country with the world's second largest number of Catholics after Brazil.

The three popes had different tastes. For John Paul, there were baroque and Renaissance pieces with gold leaf finish. Benedict had more modern artifacts with a smooth, white finish.

Francis, who has been dubbed the "pope of the poor," inspired Parra to make more modest articles.

"It will have a very simple finish, something baroque ... very easy and simple but elegant," Parra said, speaking from a workshop packed with religious paintings, wooden saints and sculptures of angels.

Three seats are being made for the pope, President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera, for their meeting at the National Palace in Mexico City.

Parra was also asked to make the coats of arms of the Vatican and Mexico, as well as an altar and a pair of paintings.

"To know that we are creating something that the Holy Father will use is something that fills us with joy, something that I can't describe with words," he said.

- Three popes, three pictures? -

Parra's workshop makes statues and paintings for priests and other people, but their current job is focused on the pope's visit.

On one side of the building, a woman chiseled designs on the Vatican coat of arms. Elsewhere, a man carved the back of one of the chairs.

"Each piece takes time and complete dedication. The patience and care that we dedicate to it is reflected in the final product," Parra said.

He grabbed two pictures in his office, one showing him bowing in front of John Paul II and the other shaking the hand of Benedict XVI. He wants to get a third picture, this time with Francis.

"I hope he likes the work so that I can salute him and see him up close so that we can take a picture," he said. "If it's possible, it will go on this wall." — Agence France-Presse