Christ the Redeemer Meaning: History Statue in Brazil

Christ the Redeemer is a Brazilian monument with a fascinating history. The statue is a great religious symbol that perfectly represents God's love for humanity.

Christ the Redeemer is a huge statue of Jesus with open arms overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Everyone knows it as a great symbol of Brazil, a cultural monument on par with the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. What many people don't know is that this famous statue has a much more fascinating history.

In this article, you will discover the history and meaning of Christ the Redeemer. Much more than just a monument, this statue has a special and little-known meaning, especially for Christians. The questions you are probably asking yourself are: What value does the statue have for Christians? Why was the statue built on Corcovado Mountain? Where did the idea to build the statue of Christ the Redeemer come from? Etc. We will answer all these questions and any others you may have.

In this article you will find:

• An introduction to Christ the Redeemer
  
• The names of Christ the Redeemer
  
• The history of Christ the Redeemer
  
• Christ the Redeemer: a unique tourist attraction
  
• Christ the Redeemer: one of the seven wonders of the world
  
• The meaning of Christ the Redeemer
  

Let's get started!

Introduction to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

Called O Cristo Redentori in Portuguese, Christ the Redeemer is a large bronze statue of Jesus that has become the symbol of Brazil. Perched atop Corcovado Mountain, it overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a favorite meeting place for tourists and locals alike. The 360° view of the Marvelous City has a lot to do with it! Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed this beautiful statue. French sculptor Paul Landowskiand Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonidawere responsible for its construction with the help of French engineer Albert Caquot. Christ the Redeemer is located in the heart of Tijuca National Park.

Erected at an altitude of 710 meters, the impressive statue measures 38 meters in total (8 meters for the pedestal and 30 meters for the statue of Jesus). It weighs 1,145 tons, including 30 tons for the head and 8 tons for each arm. The head measures 3.75 meters and each arm 3.20 meters. The tunic of Christ measures 8.50 meters. The span between the two hands is 28 meters. With such dimensions, the statue in Brazil is considered the fourth largest statue of Christ in the world.

The three largest statues of Jesus are the Christ of the Concorde in Cochabamba (34.20 meters tall), the statue of Christ the King in Świebodzin (33 meters), and the Christ of Vung Tàu (32 meters). At the base of Christ the Redeemer in Corcovado, you will find a magnificent chapel dedicated 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 already mentioned, it is called O Cristo Redentori in Portuguese. Locals often refer to it simply as Cristo Redendor. But this monumental statue of Christ is also nicknamed the Statue of Brazil, as it is the country's most famous statue. It is even part of Brazil's identity. Just as many people automatically think of the Statue of Liberty when they hear about American monuments in general, the same is true of Christ the Redeemer and Brazil.

Christ the Redeemer is also sometimes called the Corcovado statue or Christ of Corcovado, which is obvious given its geographical location. Some people even call it Corcovado, but this is a misnomer, as Corcovado is the mountain where Christ the Redeemer is located, not the statue itself. It can also be referred to as the Rio statue or the Christ of Rio. This shows that, in people's minds, the statue alone represents the city. When you say Rio statue, you mean Christ the Redeemer, not any other statue in the city.

In any case, some believers admire Christ the Redeemer so much that they decide to put a painting, lamp, or statuette of the great Christian monument in their homes. It is also possible to wear a necklace with a pendant representing the Statue of Brazil.

The history of Christ the Redeemer

In the 16th century, the first Portuguese settlers were captivated by the view from this mountain. They named it Pináculo da Tentação, which means “Pinnacle of Temptation.” A century later, Sugarloaf Mountain was renamed Corcovado, which simply means “hunchback.” The road leading to the top of Corcovado Mountain was built in 1824. The railway line from Cosme Velho station, still in use today, was inaugurated in 1884 by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil himself. Measuring 3.82 km long, it was the first railway in the country to be built purely for tourist purposes. It subsequently facilitated the construction of Christ the Redeemer, which took place between 1926 and 1931.

The choice of Corcovado Mountain as the site for Christ the Redeemer

Corcovado Mountain was chosen as the site for 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 everyone. Furthermore, we must not forget that the statue represents Jesus Christ. Our Savior deserves to be placed above everything else. Even though it is a tourist site, the Statue of Brazil is first and foremost a religious monument. It was the Lazarist priest Pedro Maria Boss who came up with the idea in 1859. He asked the crown princess, Isabel of Brazil, to finance his project, but he did not receive a positive response.

It was not until 1922 that the project began to take shape, marking the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence. This shows how devoted the country already was to our Lord. Indeed, the Brazilian territory has always been predominantly religious. The state and the Church therefore chose Corcovado Mountain so that Jesus could 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 by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was selected in 1923, although the first stone had already been laid the previous year. He traveled to Europe to finalize the design of the Statue of Brazil. There he met French sculptor Paul Landowski, who was responsible for the model. At the same time, Brazil organized a fundraising campaign, particularly among Catholic donors. Unfortunately, donations were few and far between, which delayed the work. This was compounded by the fact that the model underwent numerous modifications.

The actual work began in 1926. At this stage, there were no plans for the statue to take the form of the Crucifix. In 1928, the metal frame was replaced by a reinforced concrete structure under the supervision of French engineer Albert Caquot. It was at this point that the statue took on a different form to reproduce the Cross on which Jesus was put to death to grant us salvation. After careful consideration, soapstone was chosen for the cladding. This is a soft but extremely resistant rock, perfect for representing Christ and building a solid monument.

A religious inauguration

At last, Christ the Redeemer was erected on the peak of Corcovado! The inauguration took 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 Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi from Naples, Italy. However, due to bad weather, the lighting was finally switched on locally. The statue's lighting system was replaced twice: in 1932 and in 2000.

On the great day that marked Brazilian history forever, Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme gave a speech suggesting that the monument symbolized the power of God in a republican state. “May this sacred image be the symbol of your home, your protection, your predilection, your blessing that shines on Brazil and Brazilians,” he said. The Brazilian episcopate and hundreds of priests also took advantage of this historic day to request the beatification of the little French boy, Guy de Fontgalland. He was a young servant of God who died of diphtheria in 1925, at the age of only 11.

The restoration work

In 1937, the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage became officially responsible for the maintenance and conservation of the Statue of Brazil. The statue underwent renovation work in 1980 in preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II. Further work was carried out 10 years later. In 2003, an escalator and a panoramic elevator were added to facilitate access to the statue. The latest restoration work took place in 2010.

Christ the Redeemer: an extraordinary tourist attraction

The statue on Corcovado Mountain officially became a historic monument in 1973. It attracts an average of 750,000 visitors a year from all over the world. This makes it one of the most visited tourist attractions 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 amaze all who see it. But since it is first and foremost a symbol of Christianity, the monument has a special value for believers.

Given that the Church was behind the construction of this marvel, 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 him. Going there reminds us that our Lord is powerful and watching over us, while admiring a breathtaking view of Guanabara Bay and the whole of Rio de Janeiro. For this reason, the Statue of Brazil remains one of a kind, a magnificent place to visit on a trip to Brazil. To get there, you have two options: take the famous red train or follow 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 7 New Wonders of the World. More specifically, it took 3rd place on this selective and exclusive list. This means that the Statue of Brazil is one of the most beautiful and impressive monuments in the world. For the record, the seven new 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. So, contrary to what many people believe, it was a private initiative with a commercial purpose that had nothing to do with UNESCO. But that doesn't detract from its credibility.

The Swiss foundation took various criteria into account before ranking a monument such as Christ the Redeemer among the seven wonders of the world:

• The aesthetic appearance of the monument;
  
• The complexity of its construction in the historical context (the architects of the time managed to build it despite the limited resources available to them to complete the project).
  
• The historical interest of the monument.
  

The Brazilian statue was therefore among the seven winners. Initially, the foundation examined 177 entries before selecting just 21. The results were announced on July 7, 2007, in Lisbon. The other six wonders of the world are the Great Wall of China, the city of Petra, the Machu Picchu site, the Aztec pyramids of Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Taj Mahal.

Significance of Christ the Redeemer

Jesus watches over the city of Rio de Janeiro

It is obvious that 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 everything else. Second, Christ the Redeemer watches over the city and everything in it. The statue adopts a confident posture to remind us that God protects us at all times.

Christ the Redeemer symbolizes openness to others

Christ the Redeemer is located 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 nature of the city and its openness to others, which is a value cherished by Christians. This immense statue marks the love of Jesus Christ for all people without exception.

Christ the Redeemer symbolizes the unity of Christians

Since Brazil is a predominantly Catholic country, it is perfectly normal to have a Catholic monument. It should be noted that with 135 million faithful, 15% of the world's Catholics live in Brazil. At the time the project was launched, and even during its construction, Protestants raised objections, but as they were in the minority, the Catholics prevailed. However, it is important to note that Christ the Redeemer has never belonged exclusively to Catholics; it has become a symbol of Brazil as a whole. Once built, it was unanimously accepted, which greatly improved relations between Catholics and Protestants. This has not changed since. In short, this statue symbolizes solidarity among Christians.

Christ the Redeemer symbolizes salvation

The shape of the statue in Brazil is unmistakable, resembling the cross, the instrument of Jesus' torture. And as we all know, the cross is one of the most recognizable Christian symbols. It marks Redemption, the infinite love that God shows us by sacrificing his only Son to wash away our sins and grant us eternal life. Christ the Redeemer is aptly named. 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, Brazil's iconic statue, 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 it was completed. It even helped to reconcile all Christians in the country. Since then, Catholics and Protestants have lived in greater harmony. Christ the Redeemer perched on top of Corcovado means that Jesus is above us and watching over us. The monument also symbolizes openness to others. You have probably 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 facts about this prestigious monument, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. You now have all the information you need about the statue of Christ the Redeemer. With this information, you can explain the origin of the statue in Brazil in detail to your friends and family who would like to know more. Or you can share our blog article with them to help them get a clear idea of the origin and meaning of Christ the Redeemer. If the meaning of Christ the Redeemer is important to you, you can decorate your home with a painting of Christ the Redeemer or a religious statue of Jesus. There is also religious jewelry featuring the image of the statue in Rio de Janeiro.