Cristo Rei of Dili

The large Jesus statue Cristo Rei ( Christ the King, Chritu Rei) overlooks East Timor's capital Dili from Ponta Fatossídi, the eastern end of the bay, above the beach of Areia Branca ( Suco Meti Aut, subdistrict Cristo Rei).

The statue has not established at first glance very similar to those in Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese, but in 1988 by the Indonesian occupiers, so make yourself, following the widespread public opinion, in the majority Catholic population popular wanted. The idea to set up allegedly came from José Osório Soares Abílio. Pope John Paul II blessed the statue during his visit in 1989. Cristo Rei was inaugurated by Indonesian President Suharto until 17 July 1996 on the 20th anniversary of the official port of East Timor to Indonesia. To complete 1.1 billion rupiah has been provided by the airline Garuda Indonesia. In addition, donations were collected. In Sukaraja ( Bandung, Indonesia), the individual parts of the body of the statue made ​​of copper plates were prepared. In 27 items she was then transported to Dili and composed of 30 workers in three months.

Was designed Cristo Rei from Indonesian artists Mochamad Syailillah called Bolil. The height of the statue, including the pedestal 27 meters alludes to the fact that East Timor was annexed as the 27th province in Indonesia. The figure itself is 17 meters high; August 17, 1945, Independence Day of Indonesia. Note the oversized feet with which the statue stands on a globe. The residents of Dili see in the outstretched arms of the statue less a protecting gesture as an expression of resignation, which is why the statue popularly Jesus - is called " What can I do?". Since the Jesus statue is oriented to the west, there is the interpretation that it spreads the arms do not have Dili, but over the Indonesian capital Jakarta. A Way of the Cross with 14 stations leads up to the platform at the feet of the statue. Below the statue is a small chapel.