Rome, Italy, Jun 21, 2011 / 14:52 pm
The sculptor of a much criticized statue of Blessed John Paul II has defended his work and suggested it could, one day, be regarded as “a classic.”
“Naturally, I understand that is it not conventional, and the proposal might create a different look to what was expected,” Italian artist Oliviero Rainaldi told CNA in his first media interview since the row surrounding the statue’s unveiling in May.
“But there are so many beautiful photographs. Why do we need a photographic resemblance?”
At the time of its unveiling, the Vatican’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano described the 12-foot bronze statue situated outside Rome’s Termini train station as having “little resemblance’’ to Pope John Paul.