Brazil builds new 140ft statue of Jesus higher than Christ the Redeemer as Covid crisis continues

Brazil builds new 140ft statue of Jesus even higher than Christ the Redeemer as country’s Covid-19 crisis continues with more than 345,000 dead

  • Named Christ the Protector, the statue stands at 43 meters in Encantado, Brazil
  • The project is designed to encourage tourism to the area and to inspire faith  
  • Elsewhere, Brazil has second highest covid related death rates after USA

Construction of a second monument to Christ is underway in Brazil, with the new statue spanning even higher than the famous Christ the Redeemer. 

The statue, which will be named Christ the Protector, will stand at 43 meters (140 feet) tall including its pedestal when it is completed later this year, making it one of the world’s tallest statues of Christ. 

Christ the Redeemer, which has overlooked Rio de Janeiro for 90 years this year, measures 38 meters tall with its pedestal included, and spans 28 meters hand to hand. 

The statue measures 43 meters tall including its pedestal and spans 28 meters hand to hand

The project, set to cost around 2 million reals ($350,000) is being coordinated by the Association of the Friends of Christ, is intended to encourage tourism to the city of Encantado, and inspire faith. 

Genesio and Markus Moura, who are father and son, are overseeing the work, which is being financed by donations and has been underway since 2019. 

Adroaldo Conzatti, the politician and city mayor who conceived the idea, died in March from coronavirus complications.

It comes as covid related deaths in Brazil have mounted to 345,000, making it second only to the United States in terms of lives lost. 

One in four covid deaths this week alone were recorded in Brazil, adding up to around 4,000 deaths per day. 

Genesio and Markus Moura, who are father and son, are overseeing the work

Genesio and Markus Moura, who are father and son, are overseeing the work

When it is completed later this year, it will be one of the tallest statues of Christ in the world

When it is completed later this year, it will be one of the tallest statues of Christ in the world 

The project has a budget of 2 million reals ($350,000) and has been in construction since 2019

The project has a budget of 2 million reals ($350,000) and has been in construction since 2019

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is waiting for a Senate inquiry to take place on his handling of the outbreak, which he compared to a ‘little flu’ last year, ignoring health experts calling for social distancing and face masks. 

Supreme Court Justice Luis Roberto Barroso ruled earlier this week that enough senators had signed onto a proposed inquiry into the government’s pandemic response.

It stands taller than Christ the Redeemer (pictured) which overlooks Rio de Janeiro

It stands taller than Christ the Redeemer (pictured) which overlooks Rio de Janeiro 

Mr Bolsonaro has accused the judge of ‘politicking’ and added that the inquiry is ‘a stitch-up between Barroso and the leftists in the Senate to wear out the government.’ 

Brazil’s vaccination drive has so far relied heavily on the Coronavac vaccine, which was developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. 

The vaccine has been frequently criticised by Mr Bolsonaro, who has verbally attacked governs attempting lockdowns in the country.  

In Sao Paulo, where the governor has been critical of the president, restrictions are set to ease despite hospitals struggling to manage case loads. 

President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured) is waiting for an enquiry over his handling of the outbreak

President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured) is waiting for an enquiry over his handling of the outbreak

Officials have said that a downtick in hospitalisations is behind the decision to reopen stores selling building materials, resuming take-out services at resturants and restarting football matches without spectators. 

Elsewhere, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, bars, restaurants and malls are now able to resume in-person service.