What image comes to mind when you think of Rio de Janeiro? Perhaps the sea at Copacabana, Carnival, or Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset. We all picture Rio as a vibrant, noisy, tourist-filled city. But would you have imagined that behind all that glitter lies one of the oldest Catholic communities in Brazil?
We can tell from the city's full name, São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, given in honor of the martyr. And from the top of Corcovado, a Christ with open arms looks over the city and keeps watch day and night.
For more than four centuries, the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro have been the churches of the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, where the faith is celebrated. Here we find colonial monasteries, Baroque churches covered in gold, a modern cone-shaped cathedral, and shrines that welcome pilgrims from all over the world.
This tour has something for you, wherever you are coming from. If you live in Rio and the faith has been with you since childhood, here you will discover the history of the churches you see every day and, perhaps, a reason to return to them with new eyes. If you are approaching the Church for the first time, these churches offer you silence, beauty, and an open door to ask about the catechumenate, the journey that prepares adults to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
And if you are visiting the city for tourism or work, you will know where to attend Holy Mass between a meeting and an excursion, even if you don't speak Portuguese.
In this article you will find a brief overview of the history of the faith in the city, the 8 Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro you can't miss, with their locations, a practical guide to living the Eucharist in Portuguese, and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Need to find the nearest church, wherever you are? Download the Catholic Mass Times app: it brings together more than 110,000 churches in 200 countries, with times for Mass, Confession, and Adoration. It's sure to come in handy! Download it now.
How Did the Catholic Faith Come to Rio de Janeiro?
Rio's Catholic history begins with the city's very founding. In 1565, the Portuguese captain Estácio de Sá founded the city beside Guanabara Bay and placed it under the patronage of St. Sebastian, the Roman soldier martyred in the third century for confessing Christ. Do you realize what that means? Before it had streets or ports, Rio had a patron saint. The city's first church, dedicated to St. Sebastian, was built on the Morro do Castelo, a hill that the urban reforms of the twentieth century swept away along with that church.
The Church very soon organized the life of faith in the new city. In 1575, Pope Gregory XIII (Rome) created the Prelature of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro with the bull In supereminenti militantis Ecclesiae. A prelature is a portion of the people of God entrusted to a prelate before being established as a diocese.
The Benedictines founded their monastery in 1590, and the Franciscans arrived in 1592.
On November 16, 1676, Pope Innocent XI raised the prelature to a diocese with the bull Romani Pontificis pastoralis sollicitudo. Many of the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro you will see on this tour were born in those early centuries.
In 1808 the Portuguese royal family arrived, and the Carmelite church became the Royal Chapel and later the cathedral.
On April 27, 1892, Pope Leo XIII raised the diocese to an archdiocese with the bull Ad universas orbis Ecclesias.
The twentieth century added two universal symbols: Christ the Redeemer, inaugurated in 1931, and the new Metropolitan Cathedral, built between 1964 and 1979.
In 2013, Rio hosted World Youth Day, and Pope Francis celebrated in its cathedral the Holy Mass with the bishops of the 28th WYD and with priests, religious, and seminarians on July 27, 2013.
To remember: Rio de Janeiro was born under the patronage of St. Sebastian (1565), became a prelature in 1575, a diocese in 1676, and an archdiocese in 1892. That is why the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro include some of the most beautiful and oldest colonial churches in the Americas.
Which Catholic Churches in Rio de Janeiro Do You Need to Know?
1. Shrine of Christ the Redeemer
On the summit of Corcovado, within Tijuca National Park, the statue of Christ the Redeemer has opened its arms over the city since 1931. It is covered in soapstone, a soft rock that is easy to carve, and it was built with broad participation from the faithful and the people of Rio. Today it is counted among the New Seven Wonders of the World. Yet many visitors do not know that the monument is also an archdiocesan shrine and the most visited of all the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro.
At the base of the statue is the Chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida, where the Eucharist is reserved. Mass is celebrated there every day, Baptisms are administered, and weddings are celebrated by prior reservation; during the Jubilee of 2025 it was a Jubilee Church. Next to the elevators is the Adoration Chapel Laudato Si', named after Pope Francis's encyclical (2015), which welcomes pilgrims for perpetual adoration and vigils.
Can you imagine attending Mass at Christ the Redeemer, at his feet, with the whole city spread out below you? There are two ways up: the Corcovado Train, which departs from Rua Cosme Velho 513, or the official vans that leave from Praça do Lido, in Copacabana, and from Largo do Machado. Entry to the monument is paid, so it is a good idea to buy your ticket in advance.
- For more information, visit the website of the Shrine of Christ the Redeemer.
- Location: Corcovado, Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2. Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian (Rio de Janeiro Cathedral)
By Phil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom - Catedral Metropolitana, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4795579
Rio de Janeiro's cathedral surprises everyone who sees it for the first time. Architect Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca designed it in the shape of a cone, 106 meters in diameter at the base and 75 meters tall on the outside, and its silhouette is often compared to a Mayan pyramid. It was built between 1964 and 1979 and replaced the Antiga Sé as the seat of the archbishop. Its nave holds about 20,000 people standing and about 5,000 seated.
Think of a funnel of light. Outside, the gray concrete looks austere; inside, four stained-glass windows some 64 meters high rise from the floor to the summit and bathe the altar in color. It was here that Pope Francis, in 2013, reminded the faithful that God calls each person personally, invited them to remain close to Christ, and urged them to go out and proclaim the Gospel in order to build a culture of encounter. Among the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro, it is the most convenient for anyone who works downtown.
- For more information, visit the Metropolitan Cathedral website.
- Location: Av. Chile, 245, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Metro: Carioca and Cinelândia stations.
3. Monastery of St. Benedict (Mosteiro de São Bento)
In 1590, Benedictine monks from Bahia founded this monastery at the request of the residents of the young city. Its church, dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat, began construction in 1633 following 1617 plans by the engineer Francisco Frias de Mesquita. Perched atop the Morro de São Bento, overlooking the bay, it is one of the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro of greatest artistic value.
The facade retains the restraint of Mannerism, but the interior bursts with gilded woodcarving, sculpted wood covered in gold leaf that lines the altars, walls, and vaults. Friar Domingos da Conceição (c. 1643–1718) worked here, creating the statues of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, and Mestre Valentim designed the sanctuary lamps between 1781 and 1783.
Would you like to hear the Church pray in her most ancient voice? Gregorian chant is the single-voice chant the Church recognizes as proper to the Roman liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 116, 1963), and the monks sing it every day. The solemn Sunday Mass draws such a crowd that it is wise to arrive half an hour early.
- For more information, visit the Mosteiro de São Bento website.
- Location: Rua Dom Gerardo, 40, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
4. Church of Our Lady of Candelária (Candelária Church)
By Halley Pacheco de Oliveira - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25115732
Its name recalls the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, when the Church blesses candles in memory of the elderly Simeon, who recognized in the Child “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32). What better title for a church that faces the sea and welcomes those arriving in the city?
Tradition traces its origin to 1609, when a married couple who had survived a shipwreck built a small hermitage, that is, a simple chapel, as a sign of gratitude. Construction of the present church began in 1775 to a design by Francisco João Roscio; it was opened unfinished in 1811, and its dome was completed in 1877. The facade follows the Portuguese Baroque model, while the interior dazzles with colored marble of neo-Renaissance inspiration.
In the heart of the financial district, Candelária is one of the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro favored by those looking for a midday Mass.
- For more information, visit the Candelária website.
- Location: Praça Pio X, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
5. Old Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Antiga Sé)
If one church sums up the history of Brazil, it is the Antiga Sé. The church was consecrated on July 22, 1770, and beginning in 1785 the woodcarver Inácio Ferreira Pinto covered its main chapel, its side chapels and its ceiling with gilded carving in the Rococo style. Its stone portals were shipped from Lisbon.
In 1808, the prince regent Dom João, the future John VI of Portugal, made it the Royal Chapel, the official church of the court, and shortly afterward the cathedral. After Independence it became the Imperial Chapel. Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II were consecrated here; here Pedro I received his wife, Leopoldina of Austria, on November 6, 1817; and here Princess Isabel married the Count of Eu on October 15, 1864. It remained Rio's cathedral until the 1970s.
No other Catholic church in Rio de Janeiro holds so much imperial memory. Pause before the altar and ask yourself: how many generations prayed here before you?
- For more information, visit the Antiga Sé website.
- Location: Rua Sete de Setembro, 14, across from Praça XV, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
6. The Franciscan Complex of Largo da Carioca
By kcjc009 [2], modified by Fulviusbsas - Flickr [1], CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2582504
On the Morro de Santo Antônio, facing the Largo da Carioca, two neighboring churches form one of the oldest colonial complexes in the city. The first is the Convent of St. Anthony: the Franciscans arrived in 1592, began construction in 1608 and celebrated the first Mass there on February 7, 1615. Its sacristy, dating from around 1714, is considered the most beautiful in Rio. Every June 13, the feast of St. Anthony fills the convent with the faithful.
The second is the Church of the Third Order of St. Francis of Penance. A Third Order gathers laypeople who live the charism of St. Francis in the midst of the world. Its church, built between 1657 and 1733, is a jewel of the Baroque: Manuel and Francisco Xavier de Brito carved and gilded its altars between 1726 and 1743, and between 1736 and 1741 Caetano da Costa Coelho painted the Glorification of St. Francis, a ceiling that opens heaven above the faithful. Since 1933 it has housed the Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art.
Why so much gold in an order that loves poverty? Because offering God the very best was an act of love, like the humble family that saves its finest tablecloth for the feast day. Few Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro express that offering with such beauty.
- For more information, visit the website of the Franciscans in Brazil.
- Location: Largo da Carioca, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Metro: Carioca station.
7. Church of Our Lady of Glory of the Outeiro (Igreja da Glória do Outeiro)
By Marcusrg [2], modified by Fulviusbsas - Flickr [1], CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2620462
In Portuguese, outeiro means hill, and from its own hilltop this little church overlooks the Glória neighborhood and the Aterro do Flamengo. In 1699, Cláudio do Amaral Gurgel donated the land to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Glory, which built a small chapel there. The present church was inaugurated in 1739 and was one of the first colonial churches in Brazil with a polygonal plan: two joined octagons, one for the nave and the other for the sacristy.
Inside are blue-and-white tiles made in Lisbon between 1735 and 1740, depicting biblical scenes. The azulejo, that painted and glazed ceramic tile, serves here as an illustrated catechism on the walls. The royal, and later imperial, family chose this church for its baptisms: in 1819 Princess Maria da Glória, the future Queen Maria II of Portugal, received the sacrament here. That is why it is one of the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro most beloved for weddings and baptisms.
- For more information, visit this church's official Instagram profile.
- Location: Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória, Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Metro: Glória station.
8. Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Penha
By Diego Baravelli - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61304166
In the northern part of the city, a church crowns an enormous granite rock. Tradition holds that around 1635, Captain Baltazar de Abreu Cardoso survived a snake attack and, in gratitude to Our Lady, built a chapel there. The church was rebuilt in 1728 and in 1870, and in the early 20th century it gained two towers and a carillon of 25 Portuguese bells; the renovated complex was inaugurated in 1925.
Its most moving feature is the staircase of 382 steps carved into the rock. A childless couple promised to build it if God granted them a child; the son was born in 1818, and the staircase was completed in 1819. Is there a better image of faith than climbing step by step toward our Mother? On June 16, 2016, Pope Francis raised it to the rank of minor basilica, a title the Pope grants to churches of special liturgical and pastoral importance. It is the great Marian shrine among the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro.
If you can't climb on foot, take the bondinho, a free inclined lift. In October, the Feast of Our Lady of Penha (Festa da Penha) brings processions and Masses every hour on Sundays. The basilica stands above the Complexo da Penha, the scene of a large police operation in October 2025: check the situation in the neighborhood and visit during the day.
- For more information, visit the website of the Basilica of Penha.
- Location: Largo da Penha, 19, Penha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
How Can You Attend Mass in Rio de Janeiro If You Don't Speak Portuguese?
All the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro celebrate Mass in Portuguese. Worried you won't understand a thing? The Mass has the same structure all over the world: the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites follow the same order in Rio, in Madrid or in Mexico City. It's like a song you already know: even if the language changes, you recognize the melody. Review each part in What Is the Ordinary of the Mass? and follow the day's readings in English on your phone while the lector proclaims them in Portuguese.
If you're traveling on a Sunday, remember that the Sunday obligation also applies during your vacation, and any Mass at the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro fulfills it. The Catechism teaches that the faithful must participate in Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation (CCC 2180, citing canon 1247), and that they fulfill this duty by attending Mass in any Catholic rite, either on the day itself or on the evening of the preceding day (CIC can. 1248 §1). If you have questions, see Sunday Obligation: An Essential Guide to the 9 Most Frequent Questions and Does Saturday Evening Mass Count?.
To find a Mass in Rio de Janeiro near your hotel or your office, use the Catholic Mass Times app: with more than 110,000 churches in 200 countries, it shows you the schedules of Rio's parishes in your language. Learn how in How Do I Search for Masses in Another City on Catholic Mass Times?. And if you're looking for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, see how to find Confession near you.
To remember: the Mass keeps the same order in any language, the Sunday obligation is fulfilled in any Catholic rite, and Saturday evening Mass also counts for Sunday (CIC can. 1248 §1).
What Should You Keep in Mind When Visiting the Catholic Churches in Rio de Janeiro?
Keep these tips in mind to make the most of your visit or your participation in Holy Mass in Rio de Janeiro:
- Distinguish visiting hours from Mass times. Several churches in Rio de Janeiro open for visits only during limited hours. If you enter during a Mass, stay and pray, or wait until it ends to tour the church.
- Plan for costs. Admission to the Metropolitan Cathedral is free, but access to Christ the Redeemer requires a train or van ticket, and the Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art may charge admission. Bring some cash for the collection: your offering helps preserve the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro.
- Dress modestly. To enter the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro, choose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
- Organize your transportation. Downtown holds most of the historic churches, within walking distance of one another, and is best explored during the day and on weekdays.
- Take advantage of the great feasts. On January 20, Rio celebrates its patron, St. Sebastian; on October 12, all of Brazil honors its patroness, Our Lady of Aparecida; and in October, the Feast of Our Lady of Penha (Festa da Penha) turns the northern part of the city into one great pilgrimage.
Are You Ready to Live Your Faith in Rio de Janeiro?
Behind the beaches and the music, Rio holds a city that prays. The Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro await you with open doors: go in, kneel before the Blessed Sacrament and offer the Lord your journey, your work or your search. If you are approaching the faith for the first time, open your heart and ask at the parish about the catechumenate. And if you live here, look again with wonder at the churches that watched you grow up.
If you want to visit these churches, remember that your Catholic Mass Times app will be your best travel companion. It will help you find local Mass times, Confession schedules and Adoration times, making sure you never go without the sacraments on your trip. Download it now.
Traveling the world and want to discover other churches? Take a look at these articles:
- A Tour of the Iconic Churches of Buenos Aires: discover the churches that shaped the history of the Argentine capital.
- 5 Catholic Churches in Bangkok: find out where to attend Mass in the capital of Thailand, including in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
- The 6 Most Visited Marian Shrines in the World: set out on a pilgrimage to the great shrines of Our Lady.
What are the most important Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro?
The most important Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro are the Christ the Redeemer Shrine, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian, the Monastery of St. Benedict, Candelária Church, the Antiga Sé, the Franciscan complex at Largo da Carioca, the Igreja da Glória do Outeiro, and the Basilica of Penha.
Can you attend Mass at Christ the Redeemer?
Yes. In the Chapel of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, at the base of the statue, Mass is celebrated every day at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. To get there, you need a ticket for the Corcovado Train or the official vans.
What is the cathedral of Rio de Janeiro?
The cathedral of Rio de Janeiro is the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian, at Avenida Chile 245, in Centro. It is cone-shaped, was built between 1964 and 1979, and celebrates Mass Monday through Saturday at 12:00 PM and on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
What is the oldest church in Rio de Janeiro?
The oldest one still standing is Nossa Senhora da Apresentação, in the Irajá neighborhood, whose doorway bears the date 1613. The city's first church, on the Morro do Castelo, was demolished in the 20th century.
Where can I find a Mass with Gregorian chant in Rio de Janeiro?
Among the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro, the go-to place is the Monastery of St. Benedict, in Centro: Monday through Saturday at 7:15 AM and Sundays at 10:00 AM, at the solemn Mass with organ.
Is there Mass in English or Spanish in Rio de Janeiro?
The Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro do not publish a regular Mass in English or Spanish. Don't worry: you can take part fruitfully in Mass in Portuguese, because its structure is identical all over the world, and follow the day's readings in your own language on your phone.
What Catholic church is there in Copacabana?
Among the Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Sul, the main parish in Copacabana is Our Lady of Copacabana and St. Rose of Lima, at Rua Hilário de Gouveia 36, a few blocks from the beach. According to its parish website, it celebrates several Masses every day.
Do you have to pay to visit the churches in Rio de Janeiro?
Most Catholic churches in Rio de Janeiro are free to enter, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. Access to Christ the Redeemer is paid, because it requires the train or the official vans, and the Church of Penance operates as a museum, so it's worth checking its admission fee.
What app helps you find Mass times in Los Angeles?
The Catholic Mass Times app lets you locate nearby Catholic churches and check Mass, Confession, and adoration times in real time during your trip.
