Pele died of colon cancer at age 82. Christ the Redeemer had a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name and number 10 and a message from Pope Francis. Pelé was a devout Catholic.

Built in 1922 by the Catholic Church, the Christ the Redeemer statue is inside the Tijuca National Park, a sprawling 3,953-hectare expanse of restored Atlantic Forest recognized as one of the ...

[1/6]The Christ the Redeemer has its lights turned off to condemn "racist attacks" on Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Jr in Spain, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 22, 2023.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Christ the Redeemer was lit up in a Pele shirt among Brazilian tributes to the soccer great on the first anniversary of his death on Friday. Pele died of colon cancer at age 82.

The Christ the Redeemer statue has looked down upon the city of Rio de Janeiro for almost 90 years and is one of Brazil’s most famous tourist attractions.

The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-based Christ the Redeemer is one of the largest and most iconic statues of Jesus in the world. Its outstretched arms, spanning 92 feet, extend over the city. Standing at ...

If approved there, it will move to Brazil’s House of Representatives, who will decide if Christ the Redeemer’s future lies with the church or the state—or some reimagined collaboration.