Mastodon
RNS logo
News

Christ the Redeemer lit in Pele shirt as Brazil honors first anniversary of his death

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Christ the Redeemer had a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pelé's name and number 10 and a message from Pope Francis
Christ the Redeemer lit in Pele shirt as Brazil honors first anniversary of his death
The Christ the Redeemer statue is illuminated with an image of Pele's Brazilian jersey, as a tribute to the soccer legend on his one-year death anniversary, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Mauricio Savarese

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Christ the Redeemer was lit up in a Pele shirt among Brazilian tributes to the soccer great on the first anniversary of his death on Friday.

Pele died of colon cancer at age 82.

Christ the Redeemer had a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name and number 10 and a message from Pope Francis. Pelé was a devout Catholic.


“Pelé, as Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento became globally known, was undoubtedly an athlete who showed in his life all positive traits of a sportsman,” the pontiff said in a letter as a local orchestra played. “The memory of ‘the King of Soccer’ remains indelible in the minds of many, and it stimulates new generations to seek in sport a means to strengthen the bonds of unity among us.”

Religious ceremonies were held at the Museu Pelé in Santos, the port city he put on the map with his goals and success for Santos club, and in the small city of Tres Corações, where he was born in 1940.

Santos also held a tribute at its Vila Belmiro Stadium, where Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, one of Pelé’s sons, released 10 white balloons from the center circle. Pelé’s funeral was at the stadium.

FIFA paid its respects with a video of highlights of the Brazilian great with a message: “Pelé’s legacy will always live on.”

Pele is the only man to win the World Cup three times.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
No paywalls here. Thanks to you.
As an independent nonprofit, RNS believes everyone should have access to coverage of religion that is fair, thoughtful and inclusive. That's why you will never hit a paywall on our site; you can read all the stories and columns you want, free of charge (and we hope you read a lot of them!)

But, of course, producing this journalism carries a high cost, to support the reporters, editors, columnists, and the behind-the-scenes staff that keep this site up and running. That's why we ask that if you can, you consider becoming one of our donors. Any amount helps, and because we're a nonprofit, all of it goes to support our mission: To produce thoughtful, factual coverage of religion that helps you better understand the world. Thank you for reading and supporting RNS.
Deborah Caldwell, CEO and Publisher
Donate today