

Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 27, 2024
Christ the Redeemer is a Brazilian monument that hides a fascinating story. The statue is a great religious symbol that perfectly signifies God's Love for humanity.
Christ the Redeemer is a huge statue of Jesus with open arms that dominates the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Everyone knows it as a great emblem of Brazil, a cultural monument on a par with the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. What many people don't know is that this famous statue has a much more exciting story.
You will discover the history and meaning of Christ the Redeemer through this article. Much more than a simple monument, this statue has a special and little-known meaning, especially for Christians. The questions you are probably asking yourself are: What is the value of the statue for Christians? Why was the statue built on Mount Corcovado? Where did the idea of building the statue of Christ the Redeemer come from? Etc. We will answer all these questions and others that you would like to know.
In this article you will therefore find:
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The Presentation of Christ the Redeemer
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The appellations of Christ the Redeemer
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The Story of Christ the Redeemer
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Christ the Redeemer: a unique tourist site
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Christ the Redeemer: One of the Seven Wonders of the World
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The Meaning of Christ the Redeemer
Let's start the article without further ado!
Presentation of Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro
Called O Cristo Redentori in Portuguese, Christ the Redeemer is the large bronze statue of Jesus , which has become the symbol of Brazil. Perched atop Mount Corcovado, it dominates the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a favorite meeting place for tourists, but also for locals. The 360° view of the Marvelous City has a lot to do with it! The Brazilian engineer, Heitor da Silva Costa, designed this beautiful statue. The French sculptor, Paul Landowski , and the Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida , took care of the creation with the help of the French engineer, Albert Caquot. The Christ of Corcovado is located in the heart of the Tijuca National Park .
Erected at an altitude of 710 meters, the impressive statue measures a total of 38 meters in height (8 meters of pedestal and 30 meters of the statue of Jesus). It weighs 1145 tons, including 30 tons for the head and 8 tons for each arm. Moreover, the head measures 3.75 meters and each arm 3.20 meters. As for the tunic of Christ, it measures 8.50 meters. There is a 28 meter span between the two hands. With such dimensions, the statue of Brazil is considered the 4th largest statue of Christ in the world.
The three largest statues representing Jesus are the Christ of Concordia in Cochabamba (34.20 meters of the statue of Jesus), the statue of Christ the King in Świebodzin (33 meters) and the Christ of Vung Tau (32 meters). At the base of Christ the Redeemer in Corcovado you will find a magnificent chapel in homage to Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Baptisms and weddings are often celebrated there.
The different names of Christ the Redeemer
This is probably the monument with the most nicknames in the world! As we have already mentioned, it is called O Cristo Redentori in Portuguese. Often, locals simply call it Cristo Redendor . But this monumental statue representing Christ is also nicknamed the Statue of Brazil, because it is still the most famous statue in the country. It is even part of the very identity of Brazil. As many people automatically think of the Statue of Liberty when they hear about American monuments in general, it is the same with Christ the Redeemer and Brazil.
Furthermore, Christ the Redeemer is sometimes called the statue of Corcovado or the Christ of Corcovado, which is quite obvious given its geographical location. Some people even call it The Corcovado, but this is a misnomer, because Corcovado is the mountain where Christ the Redeemer is located and not the statue. We can also speak of the statue of Rio or the Christ of Rio. This is proof that in people's imagination, the statue alone represents the city. When we say statue of Rio, we mean Christ the Redeemer, not another statue of the city.
In any case, some believers admire Christ the Redeemer so much that they decide to install in their home a painting, a lamp or a statuette in the image of the great Christian monument. It is also possible to wear a necklace with a pendant representing the Statue of Brazil.
The Story of Christ the Redeemer
In the 16th century, the first Portuguese settlers were seduced by the view offered by this mountain. They gave them the name of Pináculo da Tentação which means: Pinnacle of Temptation. A century later, the sugarloaf was renamed Corcovado which simply means hunchback . The road leading to the summit of Mount Corcovado was built in 1824. The railway line from the Cosme Velho station, still in use to this day, was inaugurated in 1884 by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil himself. Measuring 3.82 km long, it was the very first railway in the country to be built for purely tourist purposes. Subsequently, it greatly facilitated the construction of Christ the Redeemer which took place from 1926 to 1931 .
The choice of Mount Corcovado to erect Christ the Redeemer
Corcovado Mountain was chosen to place Christ the Redeemer simply because it is the highest mountain in Rio de Janeiro . And since it is a national emblem, it deserves this location in full view of all. Furthermore, we must not forget that the statue represents Jesus Christ. Our Savior deserves to be placed above all . Even though it is a tourist site, the Statue of Brazil is first and foremost a religious monument. It was the Lazarist father, Pedro Maria Boss, who had the idea in 1859. He asked the crown princess, Isabella of Brazil, to finance his project, but he did not receive a positive response.
It was only in 1922 that the project began to become a reality to mark the hundred years of Brazilian independence . This shows how devoted the country was already to our Lord. Indeed, the Brazilian territory has always been largely religious. The State and the Church therefore chose Mount Corcovado so that Jesus would dominate and watch over the city, its inhabitants and its visitors . In addition, the statue takes the form of the Cross of Jesus to complete its religious symbolism.
The construction of Christ the Redeemer
The project of the Brazilian engineer , Heitor da Silva Costa, was selected in 1923 even though the first stone had already been laid the previous year. He traveled to the Old Continent with the aim of developing the final model of the Statue of Brazil. He then met the French sculptor, Paul Landowski, who was in charge of the model. At the same time, Brazil organized a collection campaign, particularly among Catholic donors. Unfortunately, donations were scarce, which delayed the work. Especially since the model underwent numerous modifications.
The real work then began in 1926. At this stage, it was not planned that the statue would take the form of the Crucifix. In 1928, the metal frame was replaced by a reinforced concrete structure under the leadership of the French engineer, Albert Caquot. It was at this time that the statue took another form to reproduce the Cross where Jesus was put to death to grant us Salvation. After careful consideration, steatite was chosen for the covering. It is a soft but extremely resistant rock, perfect for representing our Christ and building a solid monument.
A religious inauguration
That's it, Christ the Redeemer is erected on the peak of Corcovado ! The inauguration takes place on October 12, 1931 in the presence of the head of the provisional government, Getúlio Vargas, and Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme. The first illumination was to be carried out by the Italian scientist, Guglielmo Marconi, from Naples, Italy. The illumination is finally launched on site due to bad weather. The statue's lighting system will be replaced twice: in 1932 and in 2000.
On the great day that forever marked the history of Brazil, Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme gave a consecration speech that suggested that the monument symbolizes the power of God in a republican state . " May this sacred image be the symbol of your place of life, of your protection, of your predilection, of your blessing that shines on Brazil and the Brazilians ," he said. The Brazilian episcopate and hundreds of priests also took advantage of this historic day to ask for the beatification of the little Frenchman, Guy de Fontgalland. He was a young servant of God who died of diphtheria in 1925, at only 11 years old.
Development work
In 1937, the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute became the official responsible for the maintenance and conservation of the Statue of Brazil. The latter underwent work in 1980 as part of the preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II. Further work was undertaken 10 years later. In 2003, an escalator and a panoramic elevator were added to facilitate access to the Statue of Brazil. The last restoration work took place in 2010.
Christ the Redeemer: an extraordinary tourist site
The statue on Mount Corcovado officially became a historical monument in 1973. It has an average of 750,000 visitors per year, from all over the world. This makes it one of the most visited tourist sites in Rio de Janeiro , if not in all of Brazil. We can even say that it is one of the most visited monuments in the world . The open arms of Christ the Redeemer facing the rising sun amazes all who look at it. But since it is above all a symbol of Christianity, the monument has a special value for believers .
Since the Church is the origin of the construction of this wonder, it has allowed the Cariocas to maintain their faith in God. Christ the Redeemer has the same effect on all Christians who come to visit. Going there reminds us that our Lord is powerful, that He watches over us , while admiring a breathtaking view of Guanabara Bay as well as all of Rio de Janeiro. For this, the Statue of Brazil remains unique in its kind, a magnificent place to visit during a trip to Brazil. To get there, you have two choices: take the famous red train or take the path surrounded by greenery leading to the top of Corcovado.
Christ the Redeemer: One of the Seven Wonders of the World
In 2007, Christ the Redeemer was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. More precisely, it came in 3rd place on this selective and restricted list. This means that the Statue of Brazil is one of the most beautiful and impressive monuments in the world. For the record, the New 7 Wonders of the World were chosen after a vote organized by the New Seven Wonders Foundation . This is an organization founded by Bernard Weber, a Swiss businessman. Thus, it was a private initiative with a commercial purpose that has nothing to do with UNESCO, contrary to what many people may believe. But that does not detract from its credibility.
The Swiss foundation took into account different criteria before classifying a monument including Christ the Redeemer among the 7 wonders of the world:
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The aesthetic aspect of the monument;
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The complexity of implementation in the historical context (the architects of the time managed to build it despite the few possibilities they had to carry out the project).
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The historical interest of the monument.
The Statue of Brazil was therefore among the 7 winners. Initially, the foundation studied 177 applications before retaining only 21. The results were announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon. The other 6 wonders of the world are the Great Wall of China, the city of Petra, the site of Machu Picchu, the Aztec pyramids of Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal.
Meaning of Christ the Redeemer
Jesus watches over the city of Rio de Janeiro
It is obvious: Christ the Redeemer is a religious symbol. The Church took the initiative to build this colossal monument for several reasons. First, placing the statue of Jesus on the highest point of a city is like placing our Lord above all . Second, Christ the Redeemer watches over the city and everything in it. The statue adopts a posture of assurance to remind us that God protects us at all times .
Christ the Redeemer symbolizes openness to others
Christ the Redeemer stands in a place where everyone can see him. With his arms wide open, he welcomes everyone, both residents and visitors. This means that God welcomes all those who wish to follow him . It also symbolizes the welcoming side of the city and openness to others, which is a value dear to Christians. This immense statue marks the Love of Jesus Christ towards men without exception.
Christ the Redeemer symbolizes the union of Christians
Since Brazil is a predominantly Catholic country, it is quite normal to have a Catholic monument. It should be noted that with 135 million faithful, 15% of the world's Catholics are in Brazil. At the time of the launch of the project, or even during its implementation, the Protestants raised a protest, but being a minority, the Catholics won. But we must know that Christ the Redeemer has never belonged only to Catholics, it has become the emblem of all of Brazil. Once built, it was unanimous, which considerably improved relations between Catholics and Protestants. This has not changed since. In a word, this statue symbolizes solidarity between Christians .
Christ the Redeemer symbolizes Salvation
The shape of the Statue of Brazil does not fool anyone, it takes up that of the Cross, the instrument of torture of Jesus. And as we all know, the cross is one of the most famous Christian symbols . It marks the Redemption, the infinite Love that God shows us by sacrificing his only Son in order to wash away our sins and grant us eternal Life. Moreover, Christ the Redeemer bears his name well. He is there to remind us that Jesus died to save us. This is the very foundation of the Christian religion.
An emblem reminding us of our faith in the Lord!
As we have seen, Christ the Redeemer, the emblematic statue of Brazil, has a history closely linked to Christianity . The Catholic Church took the initiative to have it built and it became a national monument as soon as the work was completed. It even allowed all the Christians in the country to reconcile. Since then, Catholics and Protestants have lived in greater harmony. Christ the Redeemer perched on the summit of Corcovado means that Jesus is above us and that He watches over us. The monument also symbolizes openness to others. You have certainly noticed that this statue reproduces the shape of the Crucifix. It therefore reminds us that Jesus Christ carried his Cross to save us .
Now you know the most important points about this prestigious monument that is part of one of the seven wonders of the world. Now, you have all the knowledge about the statue of Christ the Redeemer. With this information, you will be able to explain in detail the origin of the statue of Brazil to your loved ones who would like to know more. Or, you can share our blog article that would help them have a clear idea of the origin and meaning of Christ the Redeemer. If the meaning of Christ the Redeemer is important to you, you have the option of decorating your home with a Painting of Christ the Redeemer, or a Religious Statue of Jesus. There are also Religious Jewelry like the statue of Rio de Janeiro.
3 comments
Vous avez bien expliqué la signification de la statue du Christ Rédempteur. Je tien à vous remercier.
Cordialement,
Loïc
Encore merci pour vos articles. Faites moi savoir par mail lorsque vous écrirez un nouvel article sur un monument religieux. Merci par avance.
To write a comment
Stephane Dolais Lefort
Dec 7, 2022Bonjour,
J’ai visité Rio et le Christo Redentor en avril 2019. Après un périple par l’Argentine et le sud du Brésil de 4 mois au total. Il y a des éléments symboliques et ésotériques qui sont inconnus du public et que j’ai découvert sur place. L’architecte était sans nul doute de ma part un Franc-Maçon, même si je n’en ai pas la preuve. J’habite actuellement en Guyane et je reviens récemment du Pérou où j’ai fais également plusieurs milliers de kms. J’ai remonté le fleuve Amazone entièrement en bateau, avec la frontière avec la Colombie et le Brésil…. Les paysages sont incroyables. J’écris actuellement un livre sur mes aventures. Je vais raconter la véritable signification du Christ de Rio, jamais divulguée au public. Trop de choses sont cachés par le Vatican et les croyants sont laissés dans l’ignorance. Le temps des révélations est venu.