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‘No one disrespects Our Lady’: fears for Brazil’s patron saint grip country ahead of election

The Guardian World Friday 02 October 2026, 04:00 UTC By Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro 1 min read
Key Points

Speculation that Flávio Bolsonaro will try to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of position could become deciding factor in run-up to SundayA row of Biblical proportions has erupted in the run-up to Brazil’s presidential election, with the country’s patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, emerging as an unlikely kingmaker in the deadlocked race. Ahead of Sunday’s vote, the two frontrunners – the leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his far-right challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro – are level...

Speculation that Flávio Bolsonaro will try to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of position could become deciding factor in run-up to Sunday

A row of Biblical proportions has erupted in the run-up to Brazil’s presidential election, with the country’s patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, emerging as an unlikely kingmaker in the deadlocked race.

Ahead of Sunday’s vote, the two frontrunners – the leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his far-right challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro – are level in the polls.

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Brazil (LOCATION) Flávio Bolsonaro (PERSON) Aparecida (PERSON) Luiz Inácio (PERSON) Lula da Silva (PERSON)
Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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