Brazilian ‘Christ the Redeemer’ Statue Illuminated With Flags of Nations Fighting Coronavirus

Brazil’s iconic ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue in Rio de Janeiro was illuminated with the flags of nations across the world fighting the raging Chinese coronavirus epidemic.

The city’s Catholic Bishop, Orani João Tempesta, held Mass at the statue on Wednesday night, urging the faithful of Brazil and the world to pray for those afflicted with the disease and nations struggling to contain it.

The statue of Jesus Christ is Brazil’s most-known landmark. It overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro on the neighboring Corcovado Mountain.

Brazil may be the first Latin American nation where the disease spreads in force. Conflicting reports have surfaced indicating that the nation’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, may have tested positive for the coronavirus after coming into contact with a cabinet secretary since diagnosed with the disease.

Global coronavirus diagnoses have surpassed 210,000, and deaths from the novel disease may be higher than 10,000. The disease originated in Wuhan, China.

Catholic officials in Italy- the most severely affected nation by the virus in terms of death count- took the almost unprecedented move of suspending regular Sunday masses and religious proceedings at the start of the month.

Gestures in their own right are not going to deter the spread of the contagious virus, but mankind shouldn’t discount the power of God during an unprecedented event some have likened to the most serious in world history since the conclusion of World War II.