The statue of Jesus Christ in Sibea-bea, Lake Toba, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra, standing at 61 metres tall, has officially become the tallest Jesus Christ statue in the world.
The blessing was led by the Archbishop of Medan, Kornelius Sipayung, and was also attended by the Bishop of the Diocese of Bandung and Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia or KWI), Antonius Subianto, the Archbishop of Palembang, Yohanes Harun Yuwono, and the Bishop of Sibolga, Fransiskus Tuman Sinaga. Several Protestant pastors and people from various religious backgrounds were also present.
“When I came to [the Jesus Christ statue in Sibea-bea], I looked to the left of [Lake Toba] and to the right of the hill. I said one word: ‘Wow.’ And once I got closer to the feet of the statue, I said, ‘Wow, wow, wow, extraordinary!'” enthused Subianto to the press during the blessing, which took place on Thursday, the 19th of September.
He continued, “There are so many hills, but the one chosen [for the statue’s location] is the hill in Sibea-bea. It is not the tallest hill [in Indonesia], but it could be the most beautiful one dedicated to God.”
Previously, a miniature version of the statue was blessed by Pope Francis at the Embassy of the Holy See in Jakarta on the 6th of September 2024, at the end of his Apostolic visit to Indonesia. This miniature was later installed under the actual statue. The Jesus Christ statue in Sibea-bea is also recognised as the tallest Jesus Christ statue in the world, standing 61 metres high, surpassing the 30-metre height of the statue in Brazil and the 22.5-metre statue in Romania.
Thanks to the statue, Samosir Regent Vandiko Timotius Gultom noted that Sibea-bea has now become a highly anticipated destination for visiting tourists. During the holiday season, in particular, the regency has seen a growing number of visitors from various regions and religious backgrounds.
“At present, the government is continuing to enhance Sibea-bea and the surrounding hills, including the construction of a pier in Sibea-bea,” Gultom told the press.
According to the Chairman of the Blessings Committee, Moses Elias Situmorang, the construction of the Jesus Christ statue in Sibea-bea, Lake Toba, began in July 2018. The statue stands 61 metres high with a foundation depth of eight metres. The project also included the construction of a tourist road by the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. This road winds around the Sibea-bea Hill ridge before descending to the shores of Lake Toba.
“The construction of the statue of Jesus Christ was made possible thanks to funding from donors, the Samosir Regency Government, and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing,” Situmorang remarked to the press.