A significant controversy has emerged in Brazil as the country approaches its presidential election, with the revered figure of Our Lady of Aparecida unexpectedly becoming a focal point in the closely contested race.
As the election day on Sunday approaches, the two leading candidates—leftist incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his far-right opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro—are neck and neck in the polls.
Recently, concerns have arisen regarding Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, potentially challenging the revered status of Our Lady of Aparecida. This has sparked widespread outrage across the nation, leading some analysts to speculate that it could sway the election in favor of Lula, a practicing Catholic.
Political analyst Thomas Traumann noted, “It could influence the election in one direction or another.” The exact origin of the controversy remains unclear, but it gained traction last week following a controversial statement made by Bolsonaro during a broadcast. He suggested that one of his initial presidential actions would be to “declare that Brazil belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This statement was interpreted by some Catholics as an indication that the evangelical politician intended to diminish the status of Our Lady of Aparecida, although only the Vatican, which designated her as Brazil’s patroness in 1930, holds the authority to make such a change.
Further fueling these concerns are Bolsonaro’s associations with JB Carvalho, an evangelical leader who has previously advocated for the removal of the patroness. In 2007, a similar legislative attempt by one of Bolsonaro’s allies was made but ultimately abandoned.
In response to the allegations regarding his intentions towards Our Lady of Aparecida, Bolsonaro labeled the claims as “fake news,” asserting that they were propagated by supporters of Lula and members of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil, which represents Catholic bishops. The bishops have since denied these accusations.
Lula’s political team has seized upon the controversy, understanding that it could negatively impact Bolsonaro in a nation where nearly 57% of the populace identifies as Catholic. With the election expected to be even more competitive than the previous one, where Lula emerged victorious by a slim margin of less than 2%, every vote is critical.
During his campaign, Lula has been seen holding statues of the Virgin Mary, while his wife, Janja da Silva, has donned a pendant honoring Our Lady of Aparecida. At a rally in the Amazon, Lula assured attendees, “As long as I’m president, no one will disrespect Our Lady of Aparecida. People need to learn to respect all religions.” His running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, a devout Catholic, shared a video expressing concern over the anxieties among Catholics regarding the current political climate and the troubling news circulating. Alckmin assured voters that he and Lula would uphold and protect “religious traditions, which are sacred to Brazilian families.”
This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between Brazil’s historically dominant Catholic Church and the rapidly growing evangelical movement, which has gained prominence since the 1980s.
Traumann remarked, “This issue has struck a chord, reflecting the increasing influence of evangelicals. They comprise about 30% of the population, but their political clout exceeds that figure—especially within Bolsonaro’s supporter base.” He believes that regardless of Bolsonaro’s true intentions regarding the patroness, the uproar has tapped into a genuine concern among Catholics about their place in society.
Historian Luiz Antônio Simas, author of the book “So Many Marys: Our Lady in Popular Culture,” remarked that the situation reflects the deep cultural significance of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazilian identity. He noted that she plays a crucial role in various aspects of Brazilian culture, including samba, football, and Afro-Brazilian religions.
While the current debate has intensified close to the election, Simas pointed out that the veneration of Our Lady of Aparecida has long been a contentious issue between Catholics and evangelicals, who reject the Catholic practice of honoring saints and images. He recalled a notable incident in 1995 when a neo-Pentecostal pastor desecrated a statue of Our Lady of Aparecida on television.
Simas suggested that underlying religious racism is a contributing factor to the uproar, particularly given that Our Lady of Aparecida is depicted as a Black Virgin Mary. He concluded that in the context of a politically charged environment, these longstanding controversies become increasingly pronounced.
