Brazil has added a new religious icon to its cultural and spiritual heritage with the inauguration of an imposing statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the city of Crato, located in the state of Ceará.
At 54 meters tall, this new work surpasses the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, which, at 38 meters, had remained for decades the most emblematic religious monument in Brazil.
Thousands of faithful and visitors arrived on November 15 to witness the official inauguration ceremony, which included a solemn mass, blessings, and musical performances. State authorities celebrated the spiritual and economic impact the statue promises to bring to the region.
The work was created by Brazilian sculptor Ranilson Viana, who was in charge of both dismantling the previous figure, which measured 45 meters and had been installed in 2014, and designing and assembling the new sculpture.
State authorities highlighted the economic benefits the project will bring: in the Cariri region alone, religious tourism generates around 2.5 million reais annually, approximately 8,649,750 Mexican pesos according to the current exchange rate.
