Papstkreuz, Steel cross monument in Donaupark, Austria.
The Papstkreuz is a 40-meter-tall steel monument in Donaupark that stands as a towering vertical structure visible across the park. Built from 56 tons of steel, it features a simple design that rises prominently against the sky.
The cross was constructed in 1983 following Pope John Paul II's visit to Vienna, when approximately 350,000 people gathered for a religious service in the park. This event established the site as an enduring memorial to an important moment in the city's religious history.
The cross serves as a place of prayer and reflection for believers who gather here regularly for spiritual practices and religious observances. Monthly masses show how this structure continues to function as a sacred meeting point within the city.
The monument is freely accessible in Donaupark and can be visited at any time. The structure is best viewed from a distance where its full height and form are clearly visible against the sky.
A smaller replica of this cross stands at Heldenplatz in Vienna, connecting that central square to the papal events of 1983. This second version demonstrates how deeply the occasion shaped the city's religious landscape.
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