Europe's tallest Virgin Mary statue unveiled in rural Poland

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A 55.6-metre statue of the Virgin Mary, believed to be Europe's tallest, was consecrated on Saturday in the small Polish village of Konotopie. The concrete figure, which includes a 15-metre crown-shaped pedestal, was commissioned by local millionaires Roman and Grażyna Karkosik as a gesture of gratitude.

The ceremony

The inauguration coincided with the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Two helicopters dropped rose petals over the crowd, while priests celebrated mass and the Mazowsze folk ensemble performed. Among attendees was Lech Wałęsa, the former Polish president and anti-communist leader, who said: "I started with the Virgin Mary and I end with the Virgin Mary."

Context and reaction

The statue is taller than Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer (38 metres) but shorter than a 98-metre Virgin Mary in the Philippines. It also surpasses Poland's Christ the King statue in Świebodzin, which is 52.5 metres tall. The unveiling comes amid declining church influence in Poland, especially among younger urban Poles. Local authorities hope the monument will become a pilgrimage and tourist site.

Opinion is divided: one critic called it "a complete waste," while a visitor described it as "a fantastic achievement." The cost is undisclosed, with media speculating up to €23 million.

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