Before the cross became the symbol of Christ’s redemption for mankind, it was the image of the good Shepherd. The image of a shepherd and his love and care for his sheep might have been lost in today’s age but the central truths of this picture still apply to our generation. It’s pointless to have a shepherd if there are no sheep. It’s the faithful Christians who are the sheep of the Lord. The true Christians who seek a just leader who will lead, protect and nurture their souls. This is the Cristians’ point of view for the statue
I personally believe that the Roman leaders also used the “Good Shepherd” statue to represent the Roman Empire and its people, the “sheep”.