Have you caught sight of the Cristo Rei of Dili? This colossal statue is also known as Estátua do Cristo Rei de Dili. It is a 27-meter-high statue of Jesus Christ. The statue sits atop a globe at Cape Fatucama in Dili. It is one of East Timor’s main tourist attractions.
The Cristo Rei of Dili was designed by Mochamad Syailillah. He is better known as “Bolil”. The statue was unveiled by President Suharto of Indonesia in 1996. It was a gift to the people of Timor Timur. Timor Timur was then an Indonesian province.
The Cristo Rei of Dili sits on Cape Fatucama. It is at the end of the Fatucama peninsula. You can reach the statue from Cristo Rei Beach. The beach is on the south side of the cape. A 570-step concrete staircase leads to the statue.
From the base of the Cristo Rei of Dili, you can see amazing views. You can see Dili to the southwest. You can also see Atauro Island to the north. To the east, you can see Jesus Backside Beach.
José Abílio Osório Soares proposed the Cristo Rei of Dili statue. He was the Governor of East Timor. He proposed it to President Suharto. The statue was a gift for the 20th anniversary of East Timor joining Indonesia.
Garuda Indonesia led the project. It raised 1.1 billion rupiah. This was not enough. Contributions from East Timorese people were needed. The project cost more than 5 billion rupiah.
Bolil had never built a large statue before. He traveled to East Timor. He inspected Cape Fatucama. The terrain was strong enough for the statue.
Bolil designed the statue. It shows Jesus wrapped in a robe. The face was hard to create. He consulted with church leaders. He used Greek and Roman features. He aimed for simplicity.
It took almost a year to create the statue’s body. Thirty workers in Bandung fabricated it. The body was made of 27 copper sections. These were shipped to Dili. Installation took about three months. A bamboo frame helped lift the sections. Each section weighed 100–200 kg.
Before the statue’s unveiling, Xanana Gusmão criticized it. He was a resistance leader in prison. He called it propaganda.
The statue was unveiled on October 15, 1996. Bishop Belo and President Suharto witnessed it from a helicopter. A few days earlier, Bishop Belo won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Bishop Belo said it would be better to improve people’s lives. This was in contrast to building statues.
The Cristo Rei of Dili was the tallest statue in Indonesia. After East Timor became independent in 2002, the statue was preserved. It became a tourist attraction.
Timorese people now feel the Cristo Rei of Dili belongs to them. It is a source of pride. It is an iconic symbol of Dili. Even Gusmão supported its renovation.
The Cristo Rei of Dili is 27 meters high. This represents East Timor becoming the 27th province of Indonesia. The statue and globe are 34 meters high. This alludes to July 17, 1976. This was the day East Timor joined Indonesia. It also alludes to August 17, 1945. This was the day Indonesia declared independence.
The Cristo Rei of Dili symbolizes Christ and the Catholic faith. It faces west towards Jakarta. However, the artist says the Governor wanted it to face Dili. Steel wires hold the arms in place. A vent in the robe reduces wind pressure.
The staircase to the Cristo Rei of Dili has 14 stations. These symbolize the Stations of the Cross. They represent Jesus’ walk to his crucifixion. Take your time to reflect on the climb to the Cristo Rei of Dili.