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Candelaria Church

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The impressive facade of the Candelaria Church rises tranquilly from the bustling financial center of Rio downtown, in the heart of an area rich in cultural attractions. Built in the XVIII Century, its ground-plan is designed in the shape of a Latin cross; lined with marble, its masonry facades feature elaborate bronze doors, with its entire history painted on the walls. This is one of the loveliest churches in Rio de Janeiro.

The Candelaria church massacre was a criminal act that took place in the Roman Catholic "Candelaria church", in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 23, 1993.

The Candelaria church holds Sunday mass and other typical services of the Catholic religion. It is famous around Rio de Janeiro for being a makeshift home to perhaps hundreds of homeless children, many of whom are involved in drugs, prostitution and other crimes. The church's personnel provides food, shelter, education and religious advice to as many of these children as possible. The Brazilian police keep a constant vigil on the church's surroundings.

One of these children, Sandro Rosa do Nascimento, went on to commit another one of Brazil's most infamous crimes.

According to some survivors, the morning of the day before the massacre, a young group of children happened to throw stones at police cars. Some policemen told them something like "don't worry, we will get you soon!". As children from the Candelaria church were usually given warnings such as these by policemen, the young perpetrators left without worrying too much about the threat.

At midnight, a few cars came to a halt in front of the Candelaria church. Next, gunfire shots were heard. The children tried to cover up, but eight of them were shot to death, with several others wounded.

Candelaria Church