Ombudsman's own tribute to Pope John Paul II

A collage of Pope John Paul II made by the Ombudsman, Joseph Sammut, has been attracting the attention of members of the public visiting his office in Valletta.

Composed of newspaper cuttings and cooking foil fixed to a painting in acrylics on a board, the collage has an uncanny connection with the Pope even more so now that he has passed on to a better life. "I had not added in a face to the Pope but viewers can still feel the presence of this great shepherd.

"The cutting reading Conventional Wisdom I got from the Financial Times because of its pink colour and message while the rest of the cuttings are from local newspapers including one reading Il-Papa jitkellem kontra il-kultura tal-mewt literally translated into the Pope speaks out against the culture of death - a direct reference also to the recent Schiavo case in America," Mr Sammut added.

An accomplished painter and sculptor, Mr Sammut had exhibited this artwork he named Enciklika at the 1996 edition of Maltafest.