A modernist sculpture of Pope John Paul II in Rome is drawing comparisons to Benito Mussolini and received a negative review from the Vatican's newspaper.

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The sculpture, created by Oliviero Rainaldi and erected at the city's main rail station, has drawn scorn from commuters and tourists who said it does not resemble the recently-beatified pontiff, ANSA reported Wednesday.

"That bullet-like head on top, it reminds me of Mussolini," said a 42-year-old commuter who gave his name as Enrico.

Sandra Hillhouse, 24, a tourist from Arizona, said the giant cloak and small head of the artwork makes it look like a creature from "Star Trek."

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno said his office may become involved if he continues to receive complaints about the sculpture.

Sandro Barbagallo, an art critic for the Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano, said the statue bears "only a slight resemblance" to John Paul II.

"We find ourselves confronted by a violent gash, like a bomb, consisting of a cloak resembling a sentry box topped by an overly round pope's head that is tiny in comparison," he wrote.