One of the largest statues of Christ in the world is being planned in Spain

A Christ with a bare upper body and outstretched arms in a heroic pose, 37 metres high and 60 metres wide from hand to hand - this is what the giant statue in Boadilla del Monte in central Spain is supposed to look like, surpassing the famous sculpture of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) above Rio de Janeiro (photo above) by seven metres. In contrast to the headlines about the "world's tallest Christ" that are currently making the rounds in the Spanish press, the protector in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra, which will be completed in 2024, is much taller at 61 metres and is the pride and joy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in the Islamic country.

The ambitious project in Spain is being driven by a local initiative called the "Association of the Faithful of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Boadilla". The website is calling for crowdfunding for the project, with the promise that a personal name can be engraved on the enormous surface for as little as five euros. Donations are the only source of funding. No funds are available from the church or the public sector, but the Boadilla del Monte town council promised to make the site available back in 2019.

Long preparatory phase

This is therefore not a spontaneous idea, but a long lead-up phase. The right-wing conservative city councillor Pascual Egea emphasised at the time that it should be a monument "by the people for the people". Without Christianity, "our history, our customs, our concept of the family, our monuments would be very difficult to understand", he added.

According to a report in the Spanish newspaper "El País", 95,000 euros in donations have been received so far, including large donations from Poland and Mexico. The total cost is estimated at 18 million euros.

According to the association, the Spanish Bishops' Conference and the responsible Bishop of Getafe, Ginés García Beltrán, have given their blessing to the project. García Beltrán is quoted favourably by the association as follows: "I am convinced that they are driven by devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I therefore encourage them to continue working for the good of the Church and for so many of our brothers and sisters who do not know the love of God and have the opportunity to experience it."

According to the planners, the Christ monument should be "neither a luxury nor an ornamental flourish", but a "symbol of hope and unity". The work is to be constructed from reinforced concrete, supplemented with carbon fibres. Inside, it will be accessible. Special attention will be paid to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is to cover several metres, be movable via an ingenious system of rollers and be able to descend from its anatomically normal position - allowing visitors to get close to it in the morning. Later in the day, it will rise again to its usual position. A showtime of the heart, if you like.

Pilgrimage and tourism destination of the future?

In the future, it could become a relevant pilgrimage and tourist destination - as was the intention in Encantado, Brazil, where a similarly high statue was inaugurated in 2022. Here in central Spain, it could attract visitors to the province and transform a previously blank spot on the map into a focal point for travellers.

But there are also question marks behind it. In Boadilla del Monte, only parts of the population can identify with such a work. Reports on television news show residents who are extremely sceptical about the whole thing. The controversy seems to be inevitable. And for all those who are persuaded to donate, there is no money-back guarantee. If a work of these dimensions and within this budget is not realised, a more modest one will be built, the newspaper "El País" quotes the association as saying. Completion of the project is targeted for 2030.