The world's tallest statue of former pontiff Pope John Paul II has been unveiled today in Poland.
Businessman Leszek Lyson funded the 45ft statue in gratitude to Pope John Paul II because he believes the former pope intervened in saving his son from drowning during a family holiday in Croatia in 2010.
The statue, which weighs five tonnes and is made of white fibreglass, shows the pope standing with outstretched arms with a gold cross around his neck.
The monument stands on a hill
above the city of Czestochowa, famous for the Jasna Gora monastery, and
its icon of the Black Madonna which is believed to work miracles.
It is situated in a miniature park, which holds models of sacred sites like Lourdes in France.
At the unveiling ceremony an actor
read fragments of texts written by the late pope, who died in 2005,
before a children's choir sang.
Later the Archbishop Waclaw Depo of Czestochowa blessed the statue.
Mr Lyson met the pope, who was named Karol Wojtyla before he rose to his title, in the 1960s.
He said the new statue surpasses the 40ft shrine to John Paul II in Chile.
Since his death, the pope has become a cult figure among Poland's Catholics who expect him to be made a saint.
In Poland 90 per cent of the 38 million population are Catholic, making it one of Europe's most devout countries.
Poland also is home to the tallest statue of Christ, a 118ft monument that was erected in the western town of Swiebodzin two years ago.
Businessman Leszek Lyson funded the 45ft statue in gratitude to Pope John Paul II because he believes the former pope intervened in saving his son from drowning during a family holiday in Croatia in 2010.
The statue, which weighs five tonnes and is made of white fibreglass, shows the pope standing with outstretched arms with a gold cross around his neck.
Archbishop Waclaw Depo unveiled the 45ft white
fiberglass statue of Pope John Paul II, funded by businessman Leszek
Lyson, in gratitude for what he believes was an intervention by the late
pontiff in saving his drowning son
Children sing next to a replica of the 14-metre-tall sculpture of Pope John Paul II after the unveiling in Czestochowa, Poland
The 45ft statue of John Paul II is thought to be the tallest in the world, trumping a 40ft model in Chile
It is situated in a miniature park, which holds models of sacred sites like Lourdes in France.
The statue was blessed by Archbishop Waclaw Depo of Czestochowa at the unveiling today in Poland
The statue towers of a miniature park, which holds models of sacred sites like Lourdes in France
Crowds attended the unveiling ceremony of the statue of the late Pope John Paul II in Czestochowa, Poland
Pope John Paul II is shown in the huge statue with his arms stretched out wearing a gold cross
POPE JOHN PAUL II
In 1920 Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland.
He was the first non-Italian pope to be elected for 450 years, as the Archbishop of Krakow at the age of 58.
He visiited 120 countries in a 27-year pontificate and became known as a freedom fighter.
In 2005 he died aged 84after a long illness.
In 2011 he was was beatified - the penultimate step towards sainthood - after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints attributed a mircale to him.
He was the first non-Italian pope to be elected for 450 years, as the Archbishop of Krakow at the age of 58.
He visiited 120 countries in a 27-year pontificate and became known as a freedom fighter.
In 2005 he died aged 84after a long illness.
In 2011 he was was beatified - the penultimate step towards sainthood - after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints attributed a mircale to him.
Later the Archbishop Waclaw Depo of Czestochowa blessed the statue.
Mr Lyson met the pope, who was named Karol Wojtyla before he rose to his title, in the 1960s.
He said the new statue surpasses the 40ft shrine to John Paul II in Chile.
Since his death, the pope has become a cult figure among Poland's Catholics who expect him to be made a saint.
In Poland 90 per cent of the 38 million population are Catholic, making it one of Europe's most devout countries.
Poland also is home to the tallest statue of Christ, a 118ft monument that was erected in the western town of Swiebodzin two years ago.