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Europe’s tallest statue of Mary blessed in Poland. “She directs us toward God”
The Europe’s tallest statue of Mary was blessed on August 15 in Konotopie, Poland. During the ceremony, Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski said the more than 55-meter (180-foot) monument is meant to turn people’s thoughts toward God and serve as a place of prayer.
By Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik
A place of prayer for pilgrims
The statue of Our Lady of Mercy now stands at a site that has long drawn local pilgrims to a nearby chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, linking the new monument to an existing tradition of prayer and pilgrimage.
“The place where we stand is no ordinary place; it is a place sanctified by the prayers of pilgrims,” said Krzysztof Wętkowski, bishop of the Diocese of Włocławek, in his homily during the Mass and blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy.
He noted that “this monumental statue of Our Lady of Mercy stands near a chapel where Our Lady of Sorrows has been venerated for decades,” underscoring the site’s longstanding connection with prayer and pilgrimage.
Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski, bishop of the Diocese of Włocławek presided over the ceremony
“We lift our eyes toward Mary”
Speaking about the message of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, Bishop Wętkowski referred to a homily by Pope Leo XIV at the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona.
The Pope said at the time: “As we admire the tower of Jesus Christ, we lift our eyes toward Him — the One who alone reveals to us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.”
“Here in Konotopie, we lift our eyes upward; we lift our eyes toward Mary, who directs us toward God. Yes, Our Lady of Mercy is meant to remind us of God. In this image, Mary welcomes us all, bending toward us and opening her arms, inviting us to raise our eyes upward, toward God and toward heaven.”
In this context, the bishop added that “many people today keep their eyes fixed only on the earth and are focused solely on themselves.”
The monumental statue of Our Lady of Mercy in Konotopie
A diocese closely linked to devotion to Divine Mercy
Referring to the statue’s title, “Our Lady of Mercy,” Bishop Wętkowski pointed out that St. Faustina Kowalska, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, was born in Świnice Warckie, also in the Diocese of Włocławek. There, she was baptized and received her First Holy Communion.
A votive offering of gratitude
During the blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy in Konotopie, Bishop Wętkowski said that “this monument is a personal votive offering of gratitude from its founder. Gratitude is therefore also due to the founders, whose initiative led to the creation of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, as well as to the designers, architects and builders.”
Standing more than 55 meters (180 feet) tall, the statue of Our Lady of Mercy is taller than, among others, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. A viewing terrace is located more than 15 meters (49 feet) above the ground.
The project was initiated and funded by Grażyna and Roman Karkosik, and the monument was built as their votive offering of gratitude.
The statue of Our Lady of Mercy in Konotopie, Poland
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