Bishop Krzysztof Wetkowski Blesses Europe's Tallest Marian Statue in Polish Village
A 182-foot statue named Our Lady of Mercy was blessed on August 15 in the rural village of Konotopie, with former Polish president Lech Walesa attending the ceremony
Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski of Włocławek, Poland, blessed Europe's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary on August 15 in the small rural village of Konotopie. The figure, which stands more than 182 feet tall (55.6 meters), has been named "Our Lady of Mercy," and its purpose is to remind the faithful of God's presence in their lives.
During the ceremony, Wętkowski said that "in this image, Mary welcomes us, bending toward us and opening her arms, inviting us to lift our gaze toward God and toward heaven." Thousands of people attended. Helicopters flew over the area scattering small red roses, priests in white vestments celebrated Mass, and the folk ensemble Mazowsze performed traditional Polish music.
Walesa attends the unveiling
Lech Walesa, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Poland, sat in the front row during the ceremony. "This is the end of my road," Walesa said, referring to the causes he has defended through his life, among them democracy and the Catholic faith. "I began with the Virgin Mary and I end with the Virgin Mary," he added, recalling the faith that drove him in his struggle against communism.
The new statue is taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which measures 125 feet including its pedestal, and than the Christ the King monument in Swiebodzin, Poland, which reaches 170 feet. A statue of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines measures 322 feet, but the one in Konotopie is recognized as the largest of its kind in Europe.
The Church in Poland
The influence of religion in public life has declined in recent years, particularly among young people and in urban areas, while the Catholic Church remains present in rural communities and among older generations. Bishop Wiesław Mering, who attended the ceremony, said he was concerned about the weakening of the Church as an institution. "The history of Christianity has ups and downs, but this place is a reminder that Mary will not abandon Poland," he said.
The Karkosiks' initiative
The statue was commissioned by Roman and Grażyna Karkosik, local millionaires who live in a small palace a few miles from Konotopie. Roman Karkosik, a businessman who made his fortune on the Warsaw stock exchange, and his wife have said the monument is an expression of gratitude to God. "The statue will be for all people," Grażyna Karkosik said, adding that she hopes visitors will reflect on their lives and their relationship with God.
Local authorities said they hope the monument will become a pilgrimage and tourist destination. Its pedestal includes an observation platform.
