Putting the pope on a pedestal

WHILE His Holiness has gone Popelitic, his nuncio has gone artistic. New York’s worldclass sculptress Carolyn Palmer, whose Roosevelt images are in Hyde Park, created a glorious head and bust, 38 inches high, 28 inches wide, of a smiling Pope Francis.

“I began in May when the church commissioned it,” she says. “Not enough time for the foundry to produce sufficient marble, so I had to make it with premium marble dust, which is lighter. Only 70 pounds, it can be carried and was fashioned via photos and videos. I changed His Holiness’ facial expression about 15 times.

“I now plan to make the official 300pound, real Carraramarble sculpture. Everyone’s praised this one. The archbishop to the Holy See pronounced it a ‘masterpiece.’ After checking bedroom, chapel and several spots in 72nd and Madison’s papal residence, they let me place it in the main lobby. I brought my own pedestal.”

Security was so tight, Palmer did not meet His Holiness. I suggest she stuff the real 300pound marble job in her carryon and personally hand it over at the Vatican.