Cristo Rei of Dili: A Majestic Symbol of Faith and Resilience in Timor-Leste

The Cristo Rei of Dili (Christ the King of Dili) statue (Portuguese: Estátua do Cristo Rei de Díli, Tetum: Estátua Cristo Rei Dili) is a 27.0-metre-high (88.6 ft) colossal statue of Jesus Christ situated atop a globe at Cape Fatucama in Dili, East Timor. It is one of East Timor’s main tourist attractions.
The statue, and the globe on which it rests, are mounted on the peak of Cape Fatucama at the end of the Fatucama peninsula. The statue is accessible from the car park at Cristo Rei Beach, on the south side of the cape, inside the Bay of Dili, via a 570-step concrete staircase shaded by trees.
The idea of constructing the Cristo Rei statue was proposed by José Abílio Osório Soares, then the Governor of East Timor, to President Suharto. The statue was intended as a gift to East Timor for the 20th anniversary of its integration into Indonesia; the anniversary was due to take place on 17 July 1996.
The statue is now also seen as a physical symbol of the figure of Christ, of suffering, and of the Catholic faith that is now part of being East Timorese. It is gesturing with embracing arms, and is oriented towards the west, which, as some have observed, is the direction of Jakarta. However, the artist has said that the Governor had asked that the statue face towards Dili. The arms and hands of the statue are held in place with steel wire rope, to withstand the wind pressure; there is also a wind vent in the armpit of the statue’s robe, linked by a pipe to another vent at the back of the robe.
Visitors climbing the staircase from Cristo Rei Beach to the statue pass 14 stations, which are places of prayer for Catholics. The 14 stations symbolise the Stations of the Cross passed by Jesus Christ on his walk to Calvary or Golgotha on the day of his crucifixion.