Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazilians have found a way to celebrate Easter in a unique way.

This Easter Sunday, Brazil paid homage to countries affected by the pandemic with their famous statue of Christ. 

There are approximately 123 million Catholics in Brazil, making Brazil the country with the largest Catholic community in the world.

Christ the Redeemer was completed in 1931 after the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro proposed the monument be built. The monument is made of soapstone and reinforced concrete.

As a tribute to those fighting against COVID-19, Rio lit their statue up on Easter with new imagery.

The statue featured the flags of countries affected by COVID-19, including Canada, and images of health care professionals. The statue was also dressed as a doctor with "thank you" writing in dozens of languages.

Vítor Magalhães, a journalist with the Brazillian news organization OPOVO Online, captured a photo of the event thanking front line workers.

"We would also like to thank the others, who continue to provide other essential services," he says.

The statue had previously been lit with flags from across the world a month ago in tribute to COVID-19.