- Title: ARGENTINA: Statue of Pope Francis unveiled in Buenos Aires
- Date: 28th June 2013
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 28, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE BUENOS AIRES METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT AND TAKING PICTURES OF THE STATUE OF POPE FRANCIS VARIOUS OF BISHOP EDUARDO GARCIA TAKING PICTURES OF THE STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BISHOP EDUARDO GARCIA, SAYING: "Seeing it and remembering so many things he did with us, that he lived with us and to have him present in some way. In fact, people passing by are taking pictures of it. Maybe they couldn't take pictures with him before because he was the bishop and he stayed there, as the pope." VARIOUS OF A WOMAN TAKING PICTURES OF THE STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STUDENT, FRANCO GRUNIER, SAYING: "It is great that people recognize what the pope is and that all Argentines see it as important." VARIOUS OF A PLAQUE AT THE CATHEDRAL WITH IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT POPE FRANCIS' LIFE BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 27, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SCULPTOR WHO DESIGNED STATUE, FERNANDO PUGLIESE, SHOWING THE STATUE IN HIS WORKSHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SCULPTOR WHO DESIGNED STATUE OF POPE FRANCIS, FERNANDO PUGLIESE, SAYING: "I am an admirer of Jorge Bergoglio and the natural image of Jorge Bergoglio makes us closer to him who we are admiring and we don't need anything more than a photograph. Why do you look at a photograph? Because when you see a picture and you see him in person and it seems like he just needs to speak, the emotion is stronger." VARIOUS OF THE STATUE OF POPE FRANCIS
- Embargoed: 13th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Arts,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAOJZCDLBMIXANM5BADGPAJSD2
- Story Text: A life-size statue of Pope Francis was unveiled Friday (June 28) at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, the seat of the Archdiocese which Francis oversaw as cardinal before being elected pope.
The revealing of the statue coincides with Saturday's (June 29) Buenos Aires celebration of Pope Day that will kick off a week-long calendar of events honouring the Argentine pope.
The Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the main fixtures of Buenos Aires' historic Plaza de Mayo, has seen a major uptick in tourist visits since the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was named Pope Francis on March 13.
Bishop Eduardo Garcia said the statue is popular and makes the pope feel closer.
"Seeing it and remembering so many things he did with us, that he lived with us and to have him present in some way. In fact, people passing by are taking pictures of it. Maybe they couldn't take pictures with him before because he was the bishop and he stayed there, as the pope," Garcia said.
In the pope's honour, The Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio Museum is also in the works and is expected to be inaugurated on July 7 in the interior of the cathedral.
"It is great that people recognize what the pope is and that all Argentines see it as important," said an Argentine student, Franco Grunier.
The sculptor who designed and created the statue, Fernando Pugliese, said he wanted to create a lifelike image of Francis to bring him closer to his admirers.
"I am an admirer of Jorge Bergoglio and the natural image of Jorge Bergoglio makes us closer to him who we are admiring and we don't need anything more than a photograph. Why do you look at a photograph? Because when you see a picture and you see him in person and it seems like he just needs to speak, the emotion is stronger," said Pugliese.
Activities and prayer sessions for the pope and the church are scheduled to be held in the cathedral and the plaza all week long.
Since his elevation to pope in March, Pope Francis has set a humble tone for the papacy and has said it is important to lead a simpler life, given the extent of poverty and suffering in the world. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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