All over the world, towering statues of Jesus stand with arms outstretched—welcoming, sheltering, and blessing the cities below.
These monuments are more than impressive feats of engineering; they are symbols of hope. They represent a vision of compassion that reaches toward every person, no matter what their story is.
In Brazil, two striking statues express this vision. The most iconic is Christ the Redeemer, perched high above Rio de Janeiro. Completed in 1931, the statue has stood with open arms, becoming one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is a global symbol of peace and solidarity.
Further south, in the small town of Encantado, Christ the Protector was completed in 2022. At 43 metres tall, it’s now even taller than the famous Redeemer.
Inside the statue is a unique feature: a glass viewing platform that allows visitors to look out over the surrounding landscape from inside the heart of Christ. It offers a powerful metaphor—what would it mean to see the world through a heart of compassion?
Closer to home, in Timor-Leste, the Cristo Rei of Dili stands high on a coastal hill, reached by a path that winds through the Stations of the Cross. Erected during Indonesian rule and later embraced by the Timorese people, it has become a beloved local symbol of strength and hope.
Eva Lee, a member of our team at Leprosy Mission Australia, took this photo.
“The Timor team took me up there one time,” she recalls, “and the sun was just about to set, and it felt like Jesus was bringing light to the world.”
That image—light breaking through at the end of the day—reminds us that small moments of beauty can carry profound meaning.
Easter, too, is often seen by many people as a time of light and renewal. A moment when, in the face of despair, we choose hope. When we reflect on the kind of world we want to build—one where compassion matters, and no one is left behind.
At Leprosy Mission Australia, we work with people who experience exclusion and discrimination simply because they’ve had leprosy. Our work is grounded in the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, love, and care. So, that means it is essential that we provide access to treatment, mental health support, and opportunities to participate fully in community life.
The statues of Christ across the world invite us to pause and consider: What would it mean to view others not with fear or judgment, but with radical empathy?
This Easter, may we all look out on the world with fresh eyes—from a place of compassion. And may we move toward those who are suffering, with the same courage and love in our hearts that is found in the Easter story.
