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-Lurid Crime Tales-
John Paul II or Mussolini? Statue sparks uproar
2011-05-21
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

#12  "The sculpture "doesn't speak to me," said Gracia Gonzalez Sanchez"

It speaks to me. It says, "I'm fugly. And stupid-looking, too."
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2011-05-21 22:02  

#11  Look's like that klattu barrata nicto guy.
And it is incredibly ugly ass.
Posted by: tu3031   2011-05-21 21:56  

#10  I get the impression of a street-side urinal (fancy port-a-john), and I'm sure it will be used for such a thing if it remains there. "Ugly" doesn't begin to describe it. Try "hideous". The "artist" must have been an excommunicated Lutheran.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2011-05-21 14:46  

#9  ...depicts the pontiff as if he is opening his cloak to embrace the faithful.

No offense but these days an invitation under the pontiff's cloak may have different connotations. Just sayin.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2011-05-21 14:06  

#8  It looks like something out of those old SF fascist future films from the '30s.

In any case it is Fuggin'Ugly!!
Posted by: AlanC   2011-05-21 10:19  

#7  It looks like "Mussolini the matador"
Posted by: OldSpook   2011-05-21 09:46  

#6  Good God, that's ugly.
Posted by: Bulldog   2011-05-21 08:53  

#5  Is that what is passing for art these days in europe?

I'm no artist but that's ugly.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2011-05-21 08:11  

#4  There's more government money in Europe than artistic talent.
Posted by: Zebulon Thranter9685   2011-05-21 07:27  

#3  That sure is ugly.
Posted by: john frum   2011-05-21 07:18  

#2  It doesn't really look like anything to me. I think they're reading way too much into it.
Posted by: Secret Master   2011-05-21 01:37  

#1  Yokay, I'll bite, I thought all newborn babies + bald guys look like Benito, or else Winnie Churchill???

D *** NG IT, DATS WHAT BILL MURRAY HEARD IN "GHOSTBUSTERS"!
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-05-21 00:37  

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