**Information from EFE agency, Aug-15-2026.**
Krakow (Poland), Aug 15 (EFE).— The largest statue of the Virgin Mary in all of Europe was inaugurated this Saturday in Poland. Standing at 55.6 meters tall, the statue was funded by tycoon Roman Karkosik and surpasses Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer.
In a ceremony held today, on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the statue—located in the parish of Konotopie (north)—was consecrated and opened to visitors.
The structure exceeds the height of the iconic 38.5-meter Christ the Redeemer in Rio and also surpasses Christ the King in Świebodzin, which reaches 52.5 meters with its pedestal and was inaugurated in 2010.
The statue unveiled today features a panoramic observation deck. Its construction required approximately 2,500 cubic meters of concrete, along with a complex steel structure designed to withstand the strong winds of the area.
The project was fully funded by Polish billionaire Roman Karkosik, considered one of the country's wealthiest men, as a personal expression of gratitude following his daughter's recovery from a serious illness.
The initiative has been shrouded in controversy, as Karkosik recently announced collective redundancies affecting around 200 people (nearly half the workforce) at his metal factory.
The creators of the project are sculptor Adam Jakub Matejkowski and designer Aleksander Skórski, who stated that the objective goes beyond the monumental, adding that its importance "is not based solely on record-breaking dimensions, but on its ability to attract people and become a place of prayer, reflection, and pilgrimage."
For their part, municipal authorities and residents hope the monument will help boost small businesses and services in an area that, until now, has maintained a predominantly rural and agricultural profile.
With this statue, Poland reinforces its tradition of large religious monuments built after the fall of communism, housing some of Europe's most striking shrines and religious landmarks, such as the Licheń Basilica, which was constructed using private donations and inaugurated in 2004.
The tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in the world is the Mother of All Asia–Tower of Peace in Batangas (Philippines), standing at 98.15 meters including its pedestal.
> *They forgot to mention in the report that the monument is named Our Lady of Mercy.*