A group of individuals kneel in prayer before The Apotheosis of St. Louis, an iconic equestrian statue of King Louis IX, the namesake of St. Louis, Missouri, on Feb. 15. King Louis IX, a 13th-century French monarch canonized for his deep devotion to the Catholic Church, led two Crusades and implemented significant legal reforms. The statue, originally crafted for the 1904 World’s Fair, was later recast in bronze and installed in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park.

In recent years, The Apotheosis of St. Louis has become a flashpoint for both protests and prayer gatherings. Critics have called for its removal, citing Louis IX’s persecution of Jewish communities and his role in the Crusades, arguing that the monument symbolizes intolerance and oppression. According to KSDK News, protests and counter-protests have taken place at the statue, with some demonstrators demanding its removal while Catholic groups gathered to pray in defense of the monument, seeing it as a representation of their faith and heritage. Some clergy members have argued that Louis IX’s religious devotion should not be conflated with modern notions of intolerance, while others, including Jewish community leaders and activists, have pointed to his policies that led to the burning of the Talmud and expulsions of Jewish people from France.

These tensions have led to confrontations at the site, highlighting broader debates over historical legacy, religious identity, and public monuments in America (KSDK News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch).

Photo by Jaden Patterson / The Volunteer