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John Paul II or Mussolini? Statue sparks uproar
The Vatican on Friday slammed a giant new modernist sculpture that portrays John Paul II, saying the bronze work outside Rome's main train station doesn't even look like the late pontiff.Commuters and tourists said the statue looks more like the late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini than the widely beloved pope. Wotta coincidence... "How could they have given such a kind pope the head of a Fascist?" said 71-year-old Antonio Lamonica, in the bustling square outside Termini Train Station. As he pondered the statue, his wife muttered, "It's ugly, really ugly, very ugly." It DOES look like Mussolini. No need to get all upside down over it though. The artist, Oliviero Rainaldi, He has the political beliefs you've come to expect of 'artists'... depicts the pontiff as if he is opening his cloak to embrace the faithful. But the Vatican said the effect was "of a mantle that almost looks like a sentry box, topped by a head of a pope which comes off too roundish." Rome kingpin Mayor Gianni Alemanno, asked by APTN in an exclusive interview in his office if the city might take down the statue, said public opinion would be considered. "There's an ancient saying: 'Vox populi, vox dei' (Latin for voice of the people, voice of God)," Alemanno said. "And from this point of view we cannot help but take into consideration the opinion of the public." Since it's too heavy to hang in front of a gas station, maybe they can move it to Rockefeller Center, per Glenn Beck. Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2011-05-21 |
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