John Paul II Monument in Szczecin

The John Paul II Monument in Szczecin is a bronze statue situated on a pedestal made of granite blocks, located at Jasne Błonia, near the Monument to the Deeds of Poles. It commemorates the papal mass celebrated by John Paul II on June 11, 1987, during his third apostolic visit to Poland. The event gathered hundreds of thousands of faithful at Jasne Błonia. The monument was unveiled on June 18, 1995, significantly influenced by the naming of the square after John Paul II and the initiative of the Szczecin City Council. The project's author is Czesław Dźwigaj, a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, with the co-authorship of Szczecin architect Stanisław Latour. For architectural reasons, the monument was not placed at the site of the field altar but opposite it, facing north toward the location where the mass took place. The statue depicts the pope in pontifical robes holding a crosier, symbolizing his role as a spiritual guide. Aesthetic elements, such as the waves at the top of the pedestal, refer to the boundaries of the Szczecin-Kamień diocese. After John Paul II's death in 2005, the monument became a gathering place for the residents of Szczecin to pay homage to him, further enhancing its cultural and spiritual significance. The monument continues to serve religious and artistic functions during anniversaries of the pope's death, and its presence in the urban landscape underscores the importance of the papal mission for the local community.