Vatican City, Sep 3, 2016 / 06:33 am
Ahead of his meeting with volunteers Saturday, Pope Francis decided to pop in for the inauguration of a new statue of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Vatican Gardens.
The fact that the statue has been placed in the gardens is significant, since they have not received a new piece of art since 2010.
"I'm glad that the image of Our Lady of Aparecida is in the Gardens," Pope Francis said at the unveiling Sept. 3. "In 2013 I had promised to return next year: I do not know if it will be possible, but at least I will have her very close, here."
The statue, designed by a Brazilian artist, is a joint initiative of the Archdiocese of Aparecida and the Embassy of Brazil to the Holy See. Cast in bronze, it depicts a boat with three fishermen holding a full fishing net, and frames a replica statue of Our Lady of Aparecida.