Renowned Italian tenor Maestro Andrea Bocelli helped City of Hope officially dedicate a statue of Pope John Paul II in the campus rose garden on June 8. The family of wine importer and longtime City of Hope supporter Gaetano D’Aquino, along with other members of the local Italian-American community, donated the nine-foot travertine marble statue, which was designed by Italian sculptor Giuliano Ottaviani.
 Tenor Andrea Bocelli helped dedicate a statue of Pope John Paul II. (Photo by Thomas Brown) |
Bocelli was accompanied by Maestro Carlo Bernini and Ivano Berti at the event. The musicians performed seven musical pieces for about 400 employees, patients and dignitaries in attendance.
The dedication ceremony also featured remarks by Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer of City of Hope, Gaetano D’Aquino, president of D’Aquino Imports Co. and Vatican representative Monsignor Vittorio Formenti, who performed an official blessing.
“It is our hope that this statue will bring comfort and inspiration to many for years to come,” said Friedman. “As spoken by Pope John Paul II himself, ‘The future starts today, not tomorrow.’ This is certainly what we believe here at City of Hope. ”
Shipping and installation of the statue also were funded by the statue’s donors.
