'AMOR' Statue Installed At Top Of Art Museum Steps To Welcome Pope Francis
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new sculpture at the top of the Art Museum steps was installed today to welcome Pope Francis to Philadelphia with love in his native language.
The six-foot high aluminum sculpture sits atop the art museum steps, looking down the Ben Franklin Parkway, with bright red letters that say "AMOR." A-M on top of a tilted O-R, which means "love" in the Pope's native Spanish and the church's traditional language of Latin.
"We are going to be anchoring both ends of the Parkway with Love," says Donna Farrell, executive director, World Meeting of Families. She says the borrowed the Robert Indiana AMOR sculpture will stand on the opposite end of the parkway from his LOVE sculpture in JFK Plaza to both welcome the Pope and to show the diversity those who will attend this historic event. She says the gesture also underscores the theme of the World Meeting of Families.
"Love is our mission, the family fully alive, this brings it all full circle," she says.
The AMOR sculpture will be available for view for several months.