- Title: BRAZIL: Rio archbishop blesses repair workers repairing iconic Christ statue
- Date: 14th February 2014
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE SUN RISING ON RIO DE JANEIRO AS SEEN FROM HIGH ABOVE ON CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN VARIOUS OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE VARIOUS OF REPAIR WORKERS WITH ARCHBISHOP ORANI JOAO TEMPESTA VARIOUS OF REPAIR WORKERS ON SCAFFOLDING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ARCHBISHOP ORANI JOAO TEMPESTA, SAYING: "It's also going to be necessary to repair the finger during the restoration of the head and there is haste to get this done in three to four months. CLOSE-UP OF THE STATUE'S HAND VIEW UP AT THE STATUE AND SCAFFOLDING ALONGSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ARCHBISHOP ORANI JOAO TEMPESTA, SAYING: "My expectation is to have the ability to serve the Church in the universal mission through and along with the presence of the Holy Father plus missions related to being a cardinal. Beyond this I was considered worthy to work with LEUS and also take care of among other things the World Youth Day." CARDINAL TEMPESTA PERFORMS BLESSING
- Embargoed: 1st March 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAEQM2YWZUQJESTQ2FEUZODGS05
- Story Text: Cardinal-designate Orani Joao Tempesta on Friday (February 14) blessed workers tasked with restoring Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer after the statue recently suffered lightning damage.
Rio's trademark monument stands 125 feet (38-metres) high and looks down at the city from its home atop Corcovado mountain.
The religious statue is believed to have had its right thumb chipped when a powerful electric storm swept through the area last month.
Additionally, the head and right middle finger are also believed to have been damaged in a separate lightning storm which occurred in December.
The current Archbishop Tempesta of Rio hopes the popular monument will be repaired in the next few months.
"It's also going to be necessary to repair the finger during the restoration of the head and there is haste to get this done in three to four months," said Tempesta.
Additional lightning rods will also be added to the statue in hopes of reducing future lighting damage.
According to the national weather service, the statue is struck an average of six times per year.
Scaling and repairing the 125-foot (38-metre) statue to repair both head and finger will be no small feat.
When asked about his own work and future with the Church as he prepares to become a cardinal later this month, Tempesta said he would continue his mission with the help of Pope Francis along with continuing to pursue local projects.
"My expectation is to have the ability to serve the Church in the universal mission through and along with the presence of the Holy Father plus missions related to being a cardinal. Beyond this I was considered worthy to work with LEUS and also take care of among other things the World Youth Day," Tempesta said.
It was announced last month that Tempesta along with 18 others will be elevated to rank of cardinal.
LEUS is the Portuguese acronym for a local Rio organization which aims to improve inner city social conditions.
Tempesta blessed the restoration project and its laborers before works could begin Friday morning.
The project's estimated cost is reportedly 2 million reais ($835,000) and will be funded by a partnership formed by both private initiative and the Archdiocese of Rio. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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