Pope hopes new statue of St. Escriva inspires Christlike living

Published: 2005-09-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped a new statue of St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer installed in an exterior niche of St. Peter's Basilica would inspire those who saw it to live their daily lives "in the spirit of Christ." In a brief ceremony featuring an 80-person choir, the pope blessed the gleaming white marble statue after it was unveiled Sept. 14. The pope prayed that "all those who contemplate (the statue) may be encouraged to live daily life in the spirit of Christ." The 16.5-foot-tall sculpture of St. Escriva, the Spaniard who founded Opus Dei, was placed on the south side of the basilica in a corner niche to the right of St. Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers. The statue of the Spanish saint was the ninth statue of a saint to find a place at St. Peter's since 1999.

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