In front of the Roman Catholic Cathedral “Divine Providence” in the capital, the monument of Holy Father Pope John Paul II (b. 1920 – d. 2005) was unveiled on August 21, 2016. The ceremony was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Chisinau and the Roman Catholic Diocese.

The monument portrays Pope John Paul II seated on a bench. Sculptor Veaceslav Jiglițchi completed the work in just two months.

Pope John Paul II, born in Poland, is the first non-Italian pope and served as the head of the Catholic Church from October 1978 until his passing in April 2005.