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City Hall inaugurates the municipality's first public baptistery.
Published on 13/12/2025 - 14:17 | Updated on 13/12/2025 - 14:36
The new space is located in Praça Jardim do Méier - Marcos de Paula/Rio City Hall The Rio de Janeiro City Hall inaugurated this Saturday (December 13th), in Praça Jardim do Méier, in the North Zone, the first public baptistery in the municipality. The new space, designed by the Municipal Secretariat of Conservation and Public Services (Seconserva), consists of a waterfall, a scenographic bible made of resin, and the baptistery intended for baptism ceremonies by immersion.
– The Jardim do Méier is a traditional space and now houses the first public baptistery in Rio for people of Christian faith. It's not for one church, for one denomination. It's for everyone in a city that has religious diversity and respect for all beliefs. It's another place of faith, devotion, and encounter with God – stated the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes.
The mayor, accompanied by the deputy mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, participated in a service celebrated by Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves of the Universal Church. The religious ceremony included the participation of Bishop Edir Macedo via videoconference. Immediately afterwards, Eduardo Paes presented the stage-set Bible in the baptistery and unveiled the inauguration plaque.
"We received this tool with great responsibility. Because we know that the people who come here will find the answer, which is the word of God. We are grateful for this tool given to the people of Rio de Janeiro. Without a doubt, it will be very well used," said Bishop Gonçalves.
The baptistery will be open daily from 6 am to 19 pm, coinciding with the opening hours of the Jardim do Méier. Maintenance will be the responsibility of the Department of Conservation, which restored the lake and the concrete and Portuguese stone flooring, replaced the grass, and renovated the bandstand.
– This is a very symbolic place where Bishop Macedo held his first service. The City Hall took a place that was abandoned and transformed it into the first public baptistery. Rio is a place with many faiths and different branches. So it is important that the City Hall is sensitive to this and provides a place for people to practice their faith – declared the Secretary of Conservation and Public Services, Diego Vaz.
The delivery of the equipment reinforces the community-oriented nature of the square, which was urbanized in 1916, and expands the options for using the public space. Access to the baptistery is free.
"Having a public baptistery is phenomenal, something truly great. I believe this baptistery will be the beginning of a new life for everyone," said Vilma Marinho, a resident of Méier.
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