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✝️ To whom does Christ belong?

✝️ To whom does Christ belong?

Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is at the center of a battle for control between Church and State

Isabela Cruz
December 15, 2024 • Reading Time: 8 minutes

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Rio's Christ the Redeemer enters the spotlight this holiday season

The Christ the Redeemer statue, in Rio de Janeiro, generates a total of BRL 1.46 billion in tourism revenue annually. Photo: Piotr Piatrouski/Shutterstock

Rising majestically above Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer stands as an emblem of faith and beauty. Perched atop Corcovado Mountain, 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level, the Art Deco statue commands sweeping views of the city's iconic skyline: the shimmering Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the verdant Tijuca Forest, and the golden curves of Rio’s beaches.

Declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the monument attracts millions of visitors annually. This holiday season, however, it finds itself at the center of an unusual spotlight.

A newly inaugurated trail up to Christ the Redeemer offers visitors a fresh perspective on the city’s natural beauty, featuring a lookout point with panoramic views of Rio’s South Zone beaches and the lagoon. Meanwhile, federal environmental agencies have announced an annual investment of BRL 25 million (approximately USD 4.1 million) through 2027 to revitalize Christ the Redeemer and other key sites within Tijuca National Park.

Renovations include structural upgrades and accessibility enhancements, such as a new ramp to the statue’s highest plateau, currently accessible only via escalator.

But these improvements also come amid a contentious debate over who should control the monument.

The struggle for control

A bill currently under discussion in Brazil’s Senate proposes excluding the Alto Corcovado area, where the statue is located, from the national park’s boundaries and transferring control to the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. The Catholic Church, which already administers the statue and its sanctuary, argues that the current federal management introduces unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and has failed to maintain essential infrastructure.

Leading this push are senators from the far-right Liberal Party (PL), including one of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s sons. At the same time, a similar proposal backed by a member of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Workers’ Party (PT) has emerged in the House.

At the heart of the matter is the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and the federal government. The national park is managed by ICMBio, a federal agency tasked with safeguarding Brazil’s biodiversity.

The church oversees a sanctuary and the statue’s illumination, earning a share of ticket sales and additional revenue from hosting events, advertising and special illumination campaigns, when Christ is lit up in a certain way at night to support a given cause. Citing its role in the statue’s creation, the archdiocese contends that it deserves broader authority over the surrounding area.

A monumental legacy

The story of Christ the Redeemer traces back to 1859, when French priest Pierre-Marie Bos proposed building a grand statue of Jesus Christ atop Rio de Janeiro’s highest point. While the idea was initially dismissed, it was revived decades later, culminating in the statue’s inauguration in 1931 under President Getúlio Vargas.

Funded through church-led campaigns, the monument symbolized modernity and strengthened ties between the government and the church.

Today, the statue’s economic impact is undeniable. According to a recent study by think tank Fundação Getulio Vargas, Christ the Redeemer generates a total of BRL 1.462 billion annually, supporting over 21,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Construction of the Christ the Redeemer statue in 1931. Photo: IMS

Preservation v. expansion

Critics of the church’s expanded role argue it lacks the expertise to manage both the natural environment and the influx of visitors. The Tijuca National Park Advisory Board has voiced concerns about the church’s proposal to extend visiting hours, warning that increased foot traffic could disturb the surrounding neighborhood of Cosme Velho and the local ecosystem. Last year, Christ the Redeemer welcomed an average of 6,000 visitors daily.

The debate reflects broader trends in Rio, where tourism has rebounded post-pandemic. Tijuca Forest, which includes Corcovado, attracted 4.4 million visitors this year, making it Brazil's second most visited federal conservation unit. Yet challenges persist, underscored by the recent shooting of an Argentine tourist who inadvertently entered a high-crime area while traveling to Corcovado.

Christ the Redeemer embodies the dualities of Rio de Janeiro: its unparalleled natural and cultural heritage juxtaposed with its enduring social challenges. Or its society’s religious traditions and the Republic’s secular state.

For now, the statue continues to captivate the world, its open arms embracing a city as complex as it is breathtaking.