Friday, May 20, 2011

Italians Criticize New Sculpture of John Paul II; Say Statue Looks More Like Dictator Mussolini

The Yahoo News website reports today (May 20, 2011) that a new, modernist sculpture of Pope John Paul II --located outside Rome's Termini Train Station -- is turning into a monumental bust. The Vatican today slammed the artwork, saying it doesn't even resemble the late pontiff.

Some Romans and tourists say that the bronze statue looks more like Italy's World War II dictator Benito Mussolini than the widely beloved pope.

"How could they have given such a kind pope the head of a fascist?" asked 71-year-old Antonio Lamonica.

Oliviero Rainaldi -- the artist -- depicted the pontiff as if he is opening his cloak to embrace the faithful. But the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said the effect of the 16-foot statue bears "only a distant resemblance to the pope."

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