A new statue in memory of Pope John Paul II was unveiled in Rome today. The work is placed in Piazza dei Cinquecento, just outside the Termini rail station.

The bronze statue made by Oliviero Rinaldi has not been widely appreciated. Many Romans argue that it looks like a sentry box and that has little resemblence with Pope Wojtyla. Also the Osservatore Romano, the offical newspaper of the Holy See, criticized the statue.  

Besides the subjective view on this work, it never happened that something new has been immediately liked by the people of the Eternal city. New architectures like the Maxxi or the Ara Pacis are still criticized by many people. Although in this case we tend to agree in not liking it.