Brazil’s famous Christ the Redeemer is lit up to look like a doctor to honor healthcare workers

The coronavirus epidemic has put medical professionals on the frontlines, and people everywhere are expressing gratitude for their incredible sacrifice. In celebration of Easter Sunday on April 12, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil was outfitted in a doctor’s coat and stethoscope to pay tribute to healthcare workers for their important contributions during these unprecedented times.

Videos of medical workers in action along with images of nations’ flags from around the world were also projected on the statue as part of the tribute.

On Twitter, @oscarneww tweeted out these photos the statue:

“Beautiful tribute from Christ the Redeemer this Easter Sunday!” he wrote. “THANK YOU to all health professionals! All our respect, pride and admiration. #HealthWorkers #Rio #RiodeJaneiro #coronavirus #COVID19.”

During the light show, Dom Orani Tempesta, the city’s archbishop, performed a mass at the base of the statue. Messages of thanks and encouragement for residents to stay home to help slow the spread of the virus were also projected onto the statue in several languages.

An Instagram post of the iconic site from the official Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer, in Tijuca National Park, cycles through the entire animation. It includes “thank yous” in many languages, along with flags from different countries. It lasts almost five minutes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-6E51-J4Jm/

Translated, the post notes, “The action was a partnership between the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, the Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer, Estácio and the Secretary of State for Culture and Creative Economy.”

Three weeks ago, the famous statue was lit with another display, as posted here by @riodejaneirobycariocas:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-A2rasJzjA/

The figure was illuminated with representations of flags “in solidarity with the victims of the pandemic,” according to the Instagrammer. It featured the flags of 150 infected nations.

The Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer is taking donations that it says will go to institutions in need, people on the streets, and the Missionary Sisters of Charity, a Catholic religious congregation that assists the needy.

Brazil’s Ministry of Health reports more than 22,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,233 deaths from the virus as of April 14.

Brazil’s tribute is just one of many around the world to honor doctors and nurses for their heroic work during the pandemic. Disney has donated 150,000 rain ponchos to MedShare, an organization that is helping to provide medical equipment to healthcare workers as they struggle with shortages.

At Costco stores across the United States, the retailer is allowing healthcare workers to go to the front of the line when making their purchases as a show of gratitude for their sacrifice. Other companies are recognizing frontline workers with giveaways and services to make their lives easier, such as free hotel rooms through Hilton.

Lighting up Christ is a beautiful way to recognize and thank medical professionals — and to lift spirits as we all work to get through a challenging time!