Giant Jesus statue completed in Polish town
By Associated Press
Nov 6, 2010 12:38 PM CDT
Workers raise the shoulders and arms of a statue of Jesus before placing them onto the figure's body, in Swiebodzin, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 6, 2010. A local priest is building what he claims to be the largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)   (Associated Press)

Workers have completed a giant statue of Jesus Christ in a small Polish town that its creators say ranks as the biggest in the world.

Hundreds of residents gathered to watch a towering crane lifting the crowned head onto the top of the statue in the town of Swiebodzin on Saturday.

The statue is the creation of a retired local priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki. Many local residents and business people in Swiebodzin (shvee-eh-BOHD'-jeen) say they hope it will put their town of 22,000 on the map for Roman Catholic pilgrims and bring in money to their community.

The statue's completion had been delayed by strong winds.

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