A towering new statue of Jesus that is literally head and shoulders above the rest has been declared "majestic" by the Pope.

The 43-metre (142-foot) high Christ the Protector in Encantado, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, tops the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro by more than five metres (16 feet).

Its official opening on 6th April saw tens of thousands of worshippers flock to the site to see the massive creation for themselves.

The largest statue of Christ in Brazil, 43 meters tall, in Encantado, Brazil, completed in April, 2022. Note: Photo from Press statment. (Emerson Edson Ruckert/Newsflash)

Pope Francis, still recovering from a serious chest infection, took time out from his recovery to give the project his blessing.

A statement from the Vatican for the Holy Father said: "This majestic work, the fruit of the faith and devotion of so many people, has become since its construction, amid the challenges of the pandemic, an eloquent sign of the welcome and hope of this people, inspiring feelings of resilience and renewal in thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, especially in times of greatest difficulty, such as the recent natural disasters that struck this region."

Picture shows Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, undated. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)

The statue, created by architects Daniela de Conto, Gislaine Castoldi, Thais Castellani and engineer Lais Ferreira, is set to become a magnet for tourists.

The Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies president Lucia Bentz told local media: "Religious tourism is a big deal. I see it as a super boost."

Since work began in 2019, more than 300,000 visitors have been to see the site as it underwent construction.

(Clive Goodman / newsX)