A statue of the Virgin Mary believed to be Europe's tallest has been formally unveiled in a small Polish village.
The 55.6‑metre (182‑ft) concrete figure is roughly twice the height of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, though it remains smaller than a 98‑m statue erected in the Philippines. The sculpture, standing in a field miles from the nearest city, symbolizes a personal commission by a local millionaire couple.
The monument was consecrated by Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski in a ceremony that coincided with the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Helicopters circled the site, dropping rose petals as the statue’s crown and open arms lifted toward the sky.
Bishop Wętkowski told attendees that today many people focus solely on earthly concerns; the statue was meant to remind viewers to redress their gaze to God and heaven. His comments reflect a broader trend of declining Catholic influence in Poland, especially among younger, urban generations.
The unveiling drew no fewer than 200 people, including former president Lech Wałęsa, who famously campaigned wearing a Virgin Mary pin and credited his faith in his fight against communism.
