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Now that you're here, try to find the statue of Mary
with the infant Jesus on her lap.

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I'll tell you the story about it in a minute...

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First look at your screen.

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Have you seen these blue signs
hanging up in front of the city's buildings?

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On the right of each sign you will see the seal
of KU Leuven, called the '<i>Sedes Sapientiae</i>'.

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Can you now see the similarity?

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Translated from Latin, Sedes Sapientiae,
meaning "<i>the Seat of Wisdom</i>",

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represents Mary as the patron saint
of the university.

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The original statue was actually
built in the 12th century.

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But this one was
commissioned three centuries later

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to be bigger and better than the first.
Unfortunately, it was demolished in World War II.

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But thankfully it was restored

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and it has been more popular than ever.

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Today, she is still being worshipped.

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Although the statue itself isn't carried around anymore,
every year on the second of February,

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a procession of professors marches through
the city to honour this patron saint.

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They of course pass by the statue, after which
they proceed to the University Hall,

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where the new honorary
doctorates are awarded.

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Need I say more? This statue is extremely
ingrained in the history of the university.