Konotopie, Poland, Aug 2026 : Europe’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary was formally blessed on Friday in Konotopie, Poland, with Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski describing the towering monument as a symbol intended to turn people’s attention toward God, prayer and heaven.
The more than 55-metre (180-foot) statue, dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, was blessed during a Mass and religious ceremony attended by pilgrims and devotees. The monument has been erected at a site with an established tradition of Marian devotion, near a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows that has attracted pilgrims for decades.
“This place where we stand is no ordinary place; it is a place sanctified by the prayers of pilgrims,” Bishop Wętkowski, head of the Diocese of Włocławek, said in his homily during the blessing ceremony.
The bishop highlighted the spiritual significance of placing the new monument near the existing chapel, saying that devotion to Mary had long been part of the religious life of the area.
“This monumental statue of Our Lady of Mercy stands near a chapel where Our Lady of Sorrows has been venerated for decades,” he said, linking the new monument to the region’s longstanding tradition of prayer and pilgrimage.
‘We lift our eyes toward Mary’
Reflecting on the purpose of the statue, Bishop Wętkowski drew on words spoken by Pope Leo XIV during a homily at the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona.
The Pope had encouraged the faithful to raise their eyes toward Christ, describing Him as the one who reveals the truth about God and about humanity.
Applying that message to the new monument in Konotopie, Bishop Wętkowski said visitors should similarly raise their eyes toward Mary, who ultimately points beyond herself toward God.
“Here in Konotopie, we lift our eyes upward; we lift our eyes toward Mary, who directs us toward God,” the bishop said.
He explained that the statue is intended to remind people of God’s presence. Its depiction of Mary, with open arms and a welcoming posture, is meant to communicate an invitation to look beyond earthly concerns and toward heaven.
The bishop also expressed concern that many people today remain preoccupied with material and worldly matters.
“Many people today keep their eyes fixed only on the earth and are focused solely on themselves,” he said, suggesting that the monument could serve as a visual reminder to look beyond oneself and rediscover a spiritual dimension to life.
Diocese linked to Divine Mercy devotion
The title Our Lady of Mercy also carries particular significance for the Diocese of Włocławek because of its connection with St. Faustina Kowalska, one of the Catholic Church’s best-known figures associated with devotion to Divine Mercy.
St. Faustina, regarded as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, was born in Świnice Warckie, which is located within the Diocese of Włocławek. She was also baptised there and received her First Holy Communion.
Bishop Wętkowski highlighted this connection while explaining the broader spiritual context surrounding the new monument and its dedication to Mary.
Monument built as votive offering
During the ceremony, the bishop also expressed gratitude to those responsible for bringing the project to completion.
He described the monument as a personal votive offering of gratitude from its founders and thanked the individuals involved in its conception, design and construction.
“This monument is a personal votive offering of gratitude from its founder,” Bishop Wętkowski said, adding that gratitude should also be extended to the founders, designers, architects and builders whose efforts made the project possible.
The massive structure rises more than 55 metres above the ground, making it taller than several internationally recognised Marian and Christian monuments. It also exceeds the height of Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue.
A viewing terrace has been constructed more than 15 metres (49 feet) above ground level, providing visitors with an elevated vantage point over the surrounding area.
The project was initiated and financed by Grażyna and Roman Karkosik, who conceived the monument as a votive offering expressing their gratitude.
The blessing of the statue on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary gave the monument added religious significance. For the faithful gathering in Konotopie, the towering image of Mary is intended not merely as an architectural landmark but as a place of prayer and reflection.
Bishop Wętkowski’s message centred on that purpose: Mary, represented with open arms and looking toward heaven, is not presented as the final destination but as one who guides believers toward God.
The new monument thus joins an existing tradition of pilgrimage at Konotopie, offering visitors another focal point for prayer while reinforcing the area’s connection with Marian devotion and the spirituality of Divine Mercy.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
