Brazil building new Christ Statue, taller than Rio’s

New giant Christ statue, taller than Rio's, to be built in Brazil

A new statue of Christ being built in Brazil will be taller than the famous Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. ‘Christ the Protector’ in the southern city of Encantado will be 43m (140 ft) high with its pedestal, making it the world’s third tallest Jesus statue. A head and outstretched arms were added to the structure last week, which was begun in 2019.

The statue is 36m from hand to hand. An internal lift will take tourists to a viewpoint in the chest region, 40m up. The $350,000 (£255,000) project is expected to be completed later in the year, the Association of the Friends of Christ group which is organising it says. It is being funded by donations from individuals and companies, the association adds. “It is a day for celebration, for devotion,” said Gilson Conzatti, a local councilor and son of Adroaldo Conzatti, the politician who conceived the idea. The elder Conzatti, who was the city’s mayor, died in March from complications of COVID-19. The project is intended to both inspire faith and encourage tourism to the area, its promoters say.