Gianni Alemanno, mayor of Rome, has just inaugurated a statue of John Paul II in the courtyard of the Policlinico Gemelli, the hospital to which the Pope was taken whenever he needed hospitalisation (9 times to be precise).
The 5 metre-high statue created by Stefano Pienotti and blessed by Cardinal Dziwis has been called Non abbiate paura or Don’t be afraid after the famous phrase John Paul pronounced on the day he was elected to the papacy (22 October 1978).
Mr Alemanno said that the Policlinico Gemelli has come to symbolise the love that Rome and its people still feel for John Paul; and the statue – added the mayor – will give hope to all those in need of help.
Galleria Repubblica
