RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — On Thursday, Brazilian Catholic worshippers laid down an eco-friendly carpet made of approximately 460 kilos (1,014 pounds) of recycled plastic caps in front of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. This event was organized in anticipation of the upcoming UN climate talks in the Amazon and aimed at raising awareness about environmental protection.
The use of tapestries is a traditional aspect of the Corpus Christi feast, during which Catholics celebrate the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The sanctuary has increasingly utilized the global attention garnered by the Christ the Redeemer statue to highlight critical environmental issues. Marcos Martins, environmental manager and educator at the sanctuary, noted, “These caps could be polluting the environment. Today they’re here as a carpet. It’s the circular economy: we take the material, we’re reusing it here and then we’re going to reuse it again with an exhibition.”
Before the arrival of tourists, Cardinal Orani João Tempesta led the celebrations at the site, which offers stunning views of Guanabara Bay and the famous Sugarloaf mountain. The colorful carpet of caps serves as a poignant reminder of humanity's co-responsibility toward ecology and the environment; themes closely associated with Christ the Redeemer, as emphasized by Rio’s Archbishop.
The ceremony also commemorated the late Pope Francis and his influential environmental encyclical, Laudato Si', which framed care for the environment as a moral imperative. In this letter, Francis called for a significant cultural revolution to address a “structurally perverse” economic system that enables the exploitation of the poor, leaving the Earth increasingly degraded. Carlos Lins, the sanctuary’s marketing director, stated, “The COP30 is coming up and we’ve just had the U.N. Ocean Conference. Nothing makes more sense than Christ being a great spokesperson for this issue.”
Prior to the event, the sanctuary organized workshops, discussions, and other activities focused on environmental preservation. It’s worth noting that the Christ the Redeemer statue is situated in the Tijuca National Park, an area known for its rich biodiversity. Brazil has faced numerous environmental challenges in recent years, including severe droughts in the Amazon, wildfires in the Pantanal, and significant flooding in the southern parts of the country.
Recently, heavy rains in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul resulted in the deaths of at least two people. This follows a year marked by devastating flooding—the worst on record—illustrating the increasing frequency of extreme weather events attributed to human-caused climate change, according to scientists.
The sanctuary's initiative underscores the intersection of faith and environmental stewardship, utilizing the prominence of the Christ the Redeemer statue as a backdrop for vital discussions on ecological responsibility.
