Cristo Rei who has been adoring Lisbon for 61 years, forces himself to the scenery found when admiring the Tagus.
From the top, he preserves anecdotes and details that only those who are well acquainted with him recall. Today, we’ll recollect a few of its episodes and quirks:
On May 17, 1959, it was inaugurated.
The monument was dedicated on May 17, 1959, Pentecost Day, in the presence of the whole Portuguese Episcopate, the Cardinals of Rio de Janeiro and Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), and almost 300,000 spectators.
Cardinal Cerejeira was the one who spoke, and he spoke the phrase:
This will forever remain a symbol of National Gratitude for the gift of Peace.”
A Brazilian concept
The National Sanctuary of Cristo Rei was conceived in 1934 during Cardinal Cerejeira’s, Patriarch of Lisbon’s, visit to Brazil. After seeing Rio de Janeiro’s magnificent Christ the Redeemer of Corcovado, he desired to create a comparable statue to appreciate the capital.
The threat of “war”
The outbreak of World War II fueled the urge to ultimately construct the Cristo Rei. The Portuguese bishops met in Fátima on April 20, 1940, and formulated this vow:
If Portugal is spared the war, a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be constructed over Lisbon as a visual reminder of how God intends to win all humanity for Himself through Love”.
The land was purchased in 1941, and the foundation stone was laid on December 18, 1949.
“Little Stones” campaign
Portuguese youngsters were heavily involved in the fundraising effort, which was dubbed “Pedras Pequeninas.”
This occurred between 1939 and 1958 and expected that the youngest saved the money donated to them during the year and then offered it in the various parishes’ Crib on December 28th.
A ten-year construction project
The monument was constructed during a ten-year period, from 1949 to 1959
40,000 tonnes of concrete
Around 40 thousand tonnes of concrete were utilised in the building of Cristo Rei. Hand-carved into the building, more than a hundred metres above the ground, is indeed the figure. Plaster moulds were utilised for this.
110 metres in altitude
The Cristo Rei tower stands 215 metres above sea level and totals 110 metres in height. The sculpture’s supporting framework is 82 metres tall, while the figure itself stands at 28 metres.
Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer is 38 metres tall (the statue is 30 metres and the pedestal is 8).
Between-hands distance
The distance between Cristo Rei’s hands is 28 metres or the same height as his torso.
A huge heart
The Cristo Rei statue’s heart is 1.89 metres in diameter.
