John Paul II statue an eye-sore for Chileans

Washington, Nov 13: John Paul II half-built statue in a Santiago park has stirred up debate among the Chileans with some calling it an eye-sore in public place.

Calling the statue to be an undignified tribute to the late Pontiff, National Monument Council said that the 42-foot monument violates building codes and clashes with the architecture of Santiago's bohemian Bellavista sector of the Recoleta neighbourhood.

While a petition has been signed by 30,000 local residents to leave the statue alone, Daniel Cordero, the statue's sculptor expresses disapproval on the basis on which the neighborhood has been chosen.

"As a final reason, the council said that the neighbourhood was secular in nature. So I would like to ask them when, precisely, on the basis of which law and whose advice was it decided to slice up our cities into Catholic or secular neighbourhoods?" he said.

As the construction has been stopped till the issue is resolved, the statue of the revered Pontiff is awaiting it final destination.

OneIndia News