A huge four-metre statue of the late pope begins its long voyage to Malta this week.

This statue, which will be put up near the Ta’ Pinu church in Gozo, has been cast in bronze to the design of an Italian artist.

On the initiative of the government of Malta, an Italian newspaper reported, it has been decided that the statue first tours those Italian towns that are twinned with Gozo, starting with Tolfa on Tuesday.

Tolfa mayor Alessandro Battilocchio said the town was very happy to commemorate the late pope who, he said, used to come incognito and walk in the woods around the town.

A procession will greet the statue and a Mass will be celebrated followed by a night-long prayer vigil.

A Tolfa delegation will come to Gozo in mid-October when the statue will be unveiled in the presence of President Eddie Fenech Adami and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, both personal friends of Mayor Battilocchio, and a Vatican delegation.