A statue of the Virgin Mary, considered the tallest in Europe, was inaugurated on Saturday in the village of Konotopie, Poland.
The location is quite isolated, in the fields, many kilometers from major urban centers. Its construction was commissioned by a millionaire couple who live in the area.
During the ceremony, two helicopters circled to drop rose petals on the Virgin Mary, who stands with her arms outstretched inside a large wreath.
??✝️ Poland unveils Europe's tallest statue of Mary in the tiny village of Konotopie.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 15, 2026
The gigantic statue of Jesus' mother, towers at a staggering 55.6 meters (182ft) and is 17.6 meters taller than Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/tnATvuI6yh
The concrete statue, 55.6 meters high, is significantly larger than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, although it is more visible because it is located on a high hill.
However, it is significantly smaller than a 98-meter statue of the Virgin Mary erected in the Philippines.
The statue comes at a time when the influence of the Catholic Church in public life in Poland has waned, according to the BBC.
The country remains predominantly Catholic, but many young Poles in urban areas are increasingly distancing themselves from the Church and its traditions.
Among those in attendance on Saturday was Lech Walesa, who led the movement to overthrow communism in Poland and later became the country's first democratically elected president.
During his election campaign, he carried a pin of the Virgin Mary and attributed his Catholic faith to an important role in his fight against communism. ©LAPSI.al
