Bernini's "Elephant and Obelisk" in front of Sta. Maria Sopra Minerva was commissioned by the Pope, Alexander VII Chigi.
The elephant is a symbol of wisdom and the obelisk he bears on his back was brought from Egypt, and is a symbol of the light of the sun.
Bernini's combination of the elephant and the obelisk, created a great pun or "conceit" for Alexander VII, equating him with wisdom and brilliance and glorifying his reign as Pope.
There is a Latin inscription on the base describing this. The sculpture was made in 1666-67.