ARTINFO: New Pope Statue "Bombs" in Rome, Angry Vatican Art Critics Say

WHILE THE CULTURE COMMISSION of the Vatican originally approved sketches of the sculpture, it is now arguing that the "mantle almost looks like a sentry box, topped by a head of a pope which comes off too roundish." L'Osservatore Romana, the main Vatican newspaper, described the statue as looking like it had been exploded by a "violent gash, like a bomb" had struck. According to the Associated Press, various passersby have even noted that the Rainaldi's artwork rather resembles Italy's former dictator, Benitohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Mussolini.