Apr 4, 2006 / 22:00 pm
In order to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India has commissioned a statue of the beloved Pontiff to honor his memory.
According to the Fides news agency, officials in Chennai are looking for the most appropriate place to erect the bronze statue of John Paul II, which was fashioned by sculptor Shihan Hussaini. “The city feels honored to be able to offer this statue in recognition of a man of dialogue and peace like Pope John Paul II,” officials said.
Hussaini said the statue’s dimensions make it “one of the largest statues dedicated to the Pontiff in the world.” He explained that statue rests on “three great steps that represent the three phases of the life of the Pope: the first when he was Karol Wojtyla, the second when he was John Paul II, and third represents the path towards sainthood.
In addition, there are another 26 smaller steps, one for each year of his pontificate,” he said.