World’s largest Jesus statue being erected in Poland
Spearheaded by a polish priest, a small town in western Poland is about to usurp Rio De Janeiro’s spot of glory at having the world’s largest statue.
Attempts were made Friday in Swiebodzin to complete the statue were foiled by heavy winds that prevented cranes from lifting the statue’s upper half onto its raised lower half — which will rise a couple yards higher than the iconic Christ the Redeemer monument in Rio de Janeiro.
Workers plan to try again. Polish media say the project cost 4 million zlotys ($1.45 million), steaming from donations that came from across the spectrum, from business people to poor people wanting to make a contribution to the church.
Work on the statue began in 2008.
However, many Poles are embarrassed by the project and hit out at the priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki, of megalomania. But town residents are thrilled – anticipating the new business they hope it will bring once believers in this deeply Roman Catholic country add it to their pilgrimage routes.
They also hope that many Germans — who tend to be much more secular than Poles — will visit simply out of curiosity since the border with Germany is only 45 miles (70 kilometers) away.
