Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss first suggested placing a Christian monument on mount Corcovado in the mid 1850s to honor Princess Isabel,regent of Brazil and the daughter of Emperor Pedro II ,but the project was not approved.In 1889,the country was a republic, and due to the separation of chruch and state, the proposed statue was dismissed.
The Catholic Circle of Rio made a second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain in 1920.The group organized an event called the Semana do Monumento(monument week)to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue.The organization was motivatedby what they perceived as"godlessness" in the society. The donations came mostly from the Brazilian Catholics.The designs was chosen as the statue of Jesus with open arms,a symbol of peace,was chosen.
go back to main page