Fernando Duarte

BBC World Service

Mary, the mother of Jesus, became a hot topic during Brazil's general election campaign.

The battle between the two presidential frontrunners has also highlighted deep political and religious divisions in Latin America's largest economy and most populous country.

Polls show that in the October 4, 2026 vote between Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, the current left-wing president, and Flavio Bolsonaro, the right-wing rival who is a senator and the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, no one will win in the first round. Jair Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest for an attempted coup after losing to Lula in the 2022 election.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a second round on 3 Aban 1405 (October 25, 2026).