Pope blesses Opus Dei statue

Pope Benedict XVI unveiled overnight a statue of Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of the influential conservative Opus Dei group, honouring him with a place among saints represented at the Vatican. The pontiff blessed the five-metre statue, by the Rome artist Romano Cosci, without comment. Opus Dei, which has a chiefly lay membership, has aroused controversy over charges that it is secretive and socially ultra-conservative. It came to wider attention when it was heavily and unflatteringly featured in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. [More]