Controversial statue of Bl. John Paul II is remodeled in Rome

September 19, 2012

A controversial statue of Blessed John Paul I, which drew an intense negative reaction when it was placed outside Rome’s Termini train station last year, has been remodeled.

Sculptor Oliviero Rainaldi said that he had completely reconfigured the face of the late Pontiff on the abstract work, and made other changes in response to public suggestions. But he insisted that the statue as a whole has not been “redone.” On the contrary, Rainaldi said, the “spirity and theological conception of the work is the same.” The statue was adapted in answer to an enormous public outcry after it was unveiled. Rainaldi said that his work had been “misunderstood” but conceded that some aspects of the statue needed work. He said that he had originally rushed to complete the statue in time for the late Pope’s beatification.

 

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Further information:

• Controversial Pope Statue Gets New Look (ANSA)
• Controversial Statue of John Paul II Gets Makeover (New York Times)
• Artist will alter unpopular statue of Bl. John Paul II in Rome (CWN, 8/29/11)