Europe's tallest Virgin Mary statue unveiled in rural Poland
A 55.6-meter statue of the Virgin Mary has been unveiled in a rural Polish village, becoming the tallest of its kind in Europe. Commissioned by a local millionaire, the statue's inauguration coincides with a decline in the Catholic Church's influence on Polish public life.
Why it matters
The statue represents a intersection of private wealth, religious tradition, and the shifting cultural landscape of modern Poland.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The 55.6-metre (182ft) concrete figure is nearly 18m taller than Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski, who consecrated the statue, said "many contemporary people look only to the earth"
Image source, EPA Image caption, The statue's consecration was chosen to coincide with the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Previous image Next image Slide 1 of 3 , A statue of the Virgin Mary rises out of green and yellow fields in Poland on a cloudy sky. , The 55.6-metre (182ft) concrete figure is nearly 18m taller than Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer End of image gallery By Aleks Phillips Published 17 minutes ago A statue of the Virgin Mary believed to be Europe's tallest has been formally unveiled in a small Polish village.
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