Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue turns 90 amid pandmic
Rio de Janeiro, Oct 12 (EFE).- Brazil’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue on Tuesday turns 90 without the usual pilgrimage of faithful and tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The main commemorating acts were moved to central Rio’s municipal Cathedral of San Sebastian, due to the rain.
A replica of Christ’s heart was placed on the altar of the Cathedral, where a ceremony presided over by the Archbishop of Rio, Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, took place.
Medals and the collection of commemorative stamps were presented during the event, which was attended only by the public and religious authorities.
The acts will last until 16 October in the Cathedral, with a series of activities inspired by the 17 sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations.
These events, which are mainly aimed at the city’s most vulnerable population, include free health, food and wellness services.
As part of the celebration, the sanctuary also began to market a series of registered trademark products to increase its income to support social works in the city.
Among them, the “Cachaça Redentor”, the traditional Brazilian sugarcane-based alcoholic drink, one of the South American country’s greatest gastronomic symbols. EFE
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