Bronze statue of Pope John Paul II by Guido Sgaravatti on Via XXIV Maggio in Messina, Sicily.

Bronze statue of Pope John Paul II by Guido Sgaravatti on Via XXIV Maggio in Messina, Sicily. Stock Photo
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Image details

Contributor:

Tony Smith

Image ID:

3FN65WD

File size:

128.1 MB (4.2 MB Compressed download)

Releases:

Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?

Dimensions:

5464 x 8192 px | 46.3 x 69.4 cm | 18.2 x 27.3 inches | 300dpi

Date taken:

24 April 2026

Location:

Via XXIV Maggio, Messina, Sicily, Italy

More information:

. A bronze statue of Pope John Paul II by sculptor Guido Sgaravatti stands on Via XXIV Maggio in Messina, depicting the pontiff in an outdoor public setting. The bronze monument depicts Pope John Paul II in a public setting on Via XXIV Maggio in Messina and is attributed to sculptor Guido Sgaravatti. John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, is commemorated by statues and memorials in many Italian and European cities. Public religious sculpture can serve devotional, commemorative and civic purposes while also becoming a recognisable local landmark. Messina has a strong Catholic architectural and cultural presence centred on churches, shrines, processions and the Cathedral in Piazza Duomo. The statue is photographed in daylight with surrounding greenery and urban context visible, documenting how the monument sits within everyday city space. The image can illustrate papal remembrance, Catholic heritage, public art, sculpture and contemporary Messina. Religious monuments in public space also show how faith, memory and civic identity are embedded in the streetscape beyond formal places of worship. John Paul II made numerous pastoral visits in Italy and abroad, and monuments to him commonly emphasise his public role as both a religious leader and an international figure. The work can also be read as part of Messina’s broader pattern of commemorative sculpture, where statues and memorials contribute to the identity of streets, squares and public gardens. The bronze figure is shown in full. The monument is photographed in situ. The urban setting remains visible. The sculpture's identity, artist attribution and Via XXIV Maggio location make the image useful for coverage of Pope John Paul II memorials, Catholic public art, papal commemoration and religious heritage in Messina. The full standing figure and outdoor setting show the monument as part of the city's everyday civic landscape.