It won't be in Rio de Janeiro or Bolivia or Colombia. The largest statue of Christ in the world will be in Madrid by 2030. A whopping 37-meter-tall sculpture is expected to be built in Spain, and the project is being led by Javier Viver.
JAVIER VIVER
Sculptor
This project is perhaps the biggest I've ever done. I've created works that are 11 meters tall, 6 meters, of other dimensions… and this represents a piece on a completely different scale. We’re also forming a collaborative team with architects and other disciplines—also with musicians, people from the film world… so in the end, it’s a project much like a movie, where many artists contribute to achieve a unified result.
The project revolves around an imposing figure representing Christ with open arms. Its inspiration comes from Pope Francis’s encyclical, Fratelli Tutti.
JAVIER VIVER
Sculptor
What you see is a torso of Christ opening his arms to all humanity, and that was the first identity marker we wanted to represent, which is Fratelli Tutti by Pope Francis—someone who stands as a symbol of unity, of welcome, where anyone can approach his heart, and he opens his arms to everyone without any distinction.
The most striking feature will be inside the sculpture: a space designed for visitors to experience something deeply personal and profound.
It will be like Thomas touching the wound in Christ’s side, like the Virgin Mary embracing his body and feeling his heartbeat, or like John resting his head on Jesus’ chest.
JAVIER VIVER
Sculptor
The torso is open, and the open side with the wound is oriented toward the rising sun. So, the first ray of light will pass through that side and illuminate the golden heart located in its anatomical position. At that moment, the light refracts and activates a pulley mechanism by which the heart descends from above—there’s an image here—it descends from there to the earth, down to the ground.
It doesn’t end there. Pilgrims will be able to hear the heartbeat inside and experience a full sensory journey. As the sun sets, the heart will rise back to its place.
JAVIER VIVER
Sculptor
Everyone will be able to enter and embrace this heart, which will serve as a Eucharistic tabernacle. It will be there all day for people to come and worship. At the end of the day, as night falls, the heart will rise back up to its anatomical place. Then it will be lit from within and serve as a beacon in the night. Through the wounds of the scourging—based on the Shroud of Turin—light will shine through those holes, signaling the presence of Jesus in the heart.
The project is currently in the fundraising phase. Those who contribute will have the opportunity to engrave their name in the heart of the sculpture, forever linking themselves to this unique work.
BAM
Trans. CRT
