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A Polish billionaire is set to build one of the tallest religious statues in the world—a massive 180-foot monument to the Virgin Mary towering over Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

Roman Karkosik, one of Poland’s wealthiest individuals, has announced plans to erect the giant statue near the town of Kikół, where he and his wife reside. The statue, once completed, will become one of the largest Marian monuments in the world, surpassing iconic religious structures such as Rio de Janeiro’s 98-foot Christ the Redeemer and Poland’s own 108-foot Christ the King statue in Świebodzin.

The project was granted official approval in October 2024, and demolition work at the construction site began earlier this month to make way for the massive undertaking. According to Kikół’s Mayor, Renata Gołębiewska, the statue will be part of a larger development that includes a viewing platform, social facilities, and landscaped grounds.

“In 2023, the Kikół City and Commune Office received an application for issuing development conditions for the construction of a viewing area with a statue of the Virgin Mary, along with a social and technical building and land development,” Gołębiewska stated. “The building permit was issued in October 2024.”

The statue itself will stand 131 feet tall, with an additional 50-foot crown, making it a breathtaking 180 feet in total height. The Virgin Mary is depicted with her hands outstretched and her head tilted slightly downward in a posture of grace and welcome.

While Karkosik has not publicly commented on the deeper spiritual motivations behind the project, reports suggest the statue is meant as a sign of gratitude for the town of Kikół and could also serve as a future tourist attraction for pilgrims and visitors alike.

Renderings of the proposed statue have been released. They show a serene and majestic figure of Mary standing atop a pedestal that will double as a panoramic viewing terrace. The platform is expected to offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, enhancing the structure’s spiritual and architectural significance.

Though no official completion date has been set, current projections suggest the statue could be finished by 2026.

Roman Karkosik, whose net worth was estimated at $1.8 billion by Forbes in 2007, is the founder and majority shareholder of Boryszew, a major Polish industrial group. While his fortune has primarily been built in manufacturing and finance, this ambitious endeavor suggests a personal dedication to faith and national heritage.

The exact cost of the statue remains undisclosed, but given the scale of the project, it is expected to be a significant financial undertaking.

Poland has a long history of Catholic devotion, with the Virgin Mary holding a particularly revered place in the nation’s religious culture. The country is home to numerous Marian shrines, including the famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa, a revered icon that has drawn millions of pilgrims for centuries.

This new statue will likely enrich Poland’s rich spiritual landscape, attracting both faithful and tourists from around the world.

While some may see the construction of such a grand monument as excessive, for many believers, it represents a powerful tribute to the Virgin Mary and an enduring symbol of Poland’s Christian faith.

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