SÃO PAULO — Report for The Monocle Daily radio programme on the inauguration of the Universal Church’s new ‘Mega Temple’ – a replica of the Temple of Solomon – in São Paulo.

(Use the player above to listen to my radio report from outside the church)

The inauguration of the R$680 million church, 18 storeys tall at the front, was attended by President Dilma Rousseff and state governor Geraldo Alckmin.

But why was it so important for politicians to attend the event; what do local people think about the new “mega temple”, now the biggest church in Brazil; and what is the Universal Church’s impact in Brazil?

Full programme (broadcast 31 July 2014) can be found here.