✝️ Cristo Rei of Dili
Timor-Leste
About This Sacred Site
Cristo Rei of Dili is a 27-meter statue of Jesus Christ standing on a globe atop a hillside overlooking the capital city and the sea. Presented by the Indonesian government in 1996 during the occupation, the statue has been embraced by the Timorese as a symbol of their deep Catholic faith and hard-won independence. Reached by climbing 570 steps lined with the Stations of the Cross, it is the most visited landmark in Timor-Leste.
Key Facts
- •The 27-meter copper and bronze statue was donated by Indonesia in 1996
- •Timor-Leste is one of only two predominantly Catholic nations in Asia
- •570 steps with Stations of the Cross lead to the statue's hilltop location
- •Over 97% of East Timorese are Catholic, a legacy of Portuguese colonization
- •The statue overlooks the site of a 1991 massacre during Indonesian occupation
Location
Coordinates: -8.5275, 125.6328
Related Holy Sites
Sacred places connected by country, religion, and purpose
⛪Motael Church Dili
The oldest church in Timor-Leste and the site of a pivotal massacre during the independence struggle.
⛪Maubisse Church
A mountain church in the cool highlands of Timor-Leste, blending Catholic worship with local animist traditions.
⛪Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica)
The spiritual center of Roman Catholicism and home of the Pope.
✝️Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
