Rome - An exhibition opened this week at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport of paintings and sculptures of Saint Pope John Paul II created by the Polish artist Anna Gulak. The event was inaugurated in the presence of Cardinal Agostino Vallini and the vice president of the Opera Roman pilgrimage, Monsignor Liberio Andreatta.

  Vito Riggio, the president of ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) and the CEO of Airports of Rome, Lorenzo Lo Presti were also present on the opening of the display Tuesday.

  The exhibition titled "Faces of John Paul II" is organized by Aeroporti di Roma in partnership with the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Vicariate of Rome. The display includes paintings and sculpture showing close-ups of Pope Wojtyla in moments of great elation but also of suffering.

  "At this historic moment in which many see the darkness, we need a spark that leads us to the fullness of faith," stressed the Cardinal. "This exhibition aims to signify the passage of St. John Paul II among the people travelling. It is a metaphor for the modern world where Pope has yet a message for pilgrims, a message of faith which is truly needed in these times, " added Vallini.

  Anna Gulak is an artist from Poland who in 2003 built the papal medal dedicated to the 25th jubilee of the pontificate of John Paul during his pilgrimage and in 2011 she made a papal medal for Benedict XVI.

  "I was inspired by John Paul II many years ago. He is a saint full of charisma and talent, an example for all Christians, the propagator of God's mercy," said the artist.

  "By realizing this exhibition we wanted to send a message of love and mercy of John Paul II carried out by Pope Francis. We hope that what we are about to experience is a time of peace and serenity for all. The airport of the capital is the first Italian place visited by pilgrims and the door of the Jubilee. We want to put the focus of the quality of time that travelers spend at the airport, " said Lo Presti.