The sculpture ‘Colonna Mediterranea’ by artist Paul Vella Critien might have to be removed from the village of Luca near the airport before Pope Benedict XVI visits this coming weekend.

The sculpture was described by Mayor John Schembri as “obscene” and “embarrassing”, should be removed “as a sign of respect” for Pope Benedict XVI, he said.

The pope is to visit on Saturday and Sunday after recent revelations that a pedophilia “response team” set up by the Maltese Catholic Church in 1999 had received allegations against 45 priests.

Nearly half of the cases have been ruled groundless, the Church said Monday, adding however: “For the Church, every case is one too many.”

The Roman Catholic Church has battled a wave of pedophile priest scandals in the United States and Europe since last November.

What do you think? Is the sculpture too racy?