Brazil’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is caught in a battle between church and state

Perched high atop Corcovado Mountain, the Cristo Redentor, as Brazilians call it, is a postcard not only for the city of Rio de Janeiro but for the entire country. But now, its management and future are at the center of a growing debate over religion, conservation, and governance.

Perched high atop Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer is more than a religious symbol or tourist attraction — it’s an enduring icon of Brazilian identity. The Cristo Redentor, as Brazilians call it, is a postcard not only for the city of Rio de Janeiro but for the entire country. The statue’s wide-open arms, spanning 92 feet, seem to personally welcome the more than 3 million visitors who make the trek to see the monument each year. But now, its management and future are at the center of a growing debate over religion, conservation, and governance. In October, a bill was introduced proposing transferring the management of the land where the statue sits from federal oversight to the Catholic Church. Proponents argue that the church’s stewardship will resolve longstanding infrastructure and accessibility issues. Critics, however, see the move as a threat to Brazil’s secular state and its environmental commitments. Built in 1922 by the Catholic Church, the Christ the Redeemer statue is inside the Tijuca National Park, a sprawling 3,953-hectare expanse of restored Atlantic Forest recognized as one of the world’s first large-scale reforestation projects. Replanted in the mid-19th century to mitigate the effects of deforestation caused by coffee plantations, Brazil’s government established the national park to preserve ecologically significant ecosystems and provide a sanctuary for biodiversity. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012, and today, it is home to 1,619 plant species and 328 animal species, many of which are endangered. “This park is far more than just a backdrop to the Redeemer,” says Mauro Pires, president of Brazil’s national parks and conservation units agency, ICMBio. “It’s a vital ecological system that sustains local wildlife and plays a role in regulating Rio’s climate and water supply.”