How Our Lady took center stage in heated Brazilian election

Supporters of Brazilian President Lula da Silva accused challenger Flávio Bolsonaro of planning to remove Our Lady Aparecida from her legal status as the patron saint of Brazil. The Flávio Bolsonaro campaign denied the claim, stating that Lula spread false information with assistance from the Catholic Church.

The dispute over the patron saint's official status has moved to the courts. While the Bolsonaro campaign maintains there is no plan to demote the saint, the controversy has gained traction in Brazil, which remains the world's largest Catholic nation by population.

According to 2022 census data, 56.7% of Brazilians identify as Catholic, a decrease from 65.1% in 2010. During the same period, the Evangelical population rose to 26.9% from 21.6%. Voting patterns show a divide between these groups, with 50% of Catholics and 26% of Evangelicals supporting Lula, while 32% of Catholics and 52% of Evangelicals support Bolsonaro.