This extraordinary project was completed in 1931, after five years of construction. The result of a desire for unity on the part of the Church and the genius of two men, the statue now stands 38 metres high. Its wide-open arms bless the inhabitants and tourists who come to visit it.
Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was responsible for the designs. He entrusted the construction mission to the Franco-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski, who brought his vision to life. The hands and head were made in France, transported across the Atlantic Ocean and finally shipped by train.