Ángela de Oliveira Cézar de Costa – Go Health Pro

Ángela de Oliveira Cézar de Costa (1860-1940) was a pioneer in the realms of international pacifism and “female diplomacy” during the late 19th and early 20th century – and yet she remains standing in the shadow of a statue she had commissioned: the Christ in the Andes is far better known than her own name.

Born into an elite family in Gualeguaychú, Argentina, she enjoyed a privilege that many other women of her time did not: she had access to social and political affairs, from which women were typically excluded.¹⁾ This later helped her to engage in important projects and to establish her vision of diplomacy, though her achievements were never merely a result of this privilege.

Her life and work reflect the complexities of gender, diplomacy, and the pursuit of peace in a tumultuous era marked by national conflicts and the burgeoning movements for international cooperation.

Her early life

Ángela’s early life was shaped by the socio-political environment of Latin America, characterized by territorial disputes and the quest for national identity following independence from colonial powers. The diplomatic landscape of the region was mostly male-dominated, with women usually relegated to the periphery of public life. However, she defied these norms, positioning herself as a key player in the promotion of peace and fraternity among nations, particularly between Argentina and Chile.

Entering the public sphere

Her marriage to Pascual Costa, a prominent figure in Argentinean society, further entrenched her within influential circles. This alliance allowed her to navigate the male-dominated world of diplomacy with a degree of ease, as she was able to engage directly with political leaders and diplomats. Nevertheless, her path was never connected to her husband’s.²⁾ Ángela began her public commitment in the late 19th century, when she became involved in social projects and charitable initiatives. She was a member of the Congregación de Madres Cristianas (Congregation of Christian Mothers) in Buenos Aires, where she campaigned for the education and welfare of women and children. However, her commitment to peace and international cooperation only took shape in the early 20th century, when she began to actively campaign for international pacifism.³⁾

“Pactos de Mayo” and the relocation of the statue “Cristo Redentor de los Andes”

One of the pivotal moments in Ángela’s career came in the early 1900s, following the signing of the Treaty of Naval Equivalence, Peace and Friendship, also known as the “Pactos de Mayo” (1902) (May Pacts), which resolved a territorial dispute concerning the claim to Patagonia (the geographical region at the southern end of South America) between Argentina and Chile.

In this context, she proposed that a statue of Christ should be set up on the Argentinean-Chilean border as a symbol of peace and fraternity between the two nations. This initiative was not merely a personal project; it was a profound statement about the potential for reconciliation and cooperation in a region fraught with historical tensions. The proposal made by Ángela to the Argentinean president Julio Argentino Roca redefined the original message of the statue, which was to manifest their devotion to Christ the Redeemer (an appeal by the Pope Leo XIII), and thus initiated a shift in relation to current practices in the placement of Latin American monuments.⁴⁾

She further stated that

“[B]anquets, dances, strolls, everything seemed to me poor and of ephemeral memory, considering those peace pact […] were the most glorious and humanitarian acts that a country can celebrate. As such, I wished to see it commemorated with an event of the same magnitude.”⁵⁾

 Her vision was met with enthusiasm by president Julio Argentino Roca and many others influential persons, who recognized the significance of her proposal and supported its realization.⁶⁾ The inauguration of the Christ of the Andes statue in March 1904 marked a significant milestone in Ángela’s life and work. Attended by diplomats, ministers, and religious figures from both Argentina and Chile, the event symbolized a moment of unity and shared purpose.⁷⁾ The statue became a powerful emblem of peace and model for later statues (e.g., a similar figure in the Peace Palace in The Hague), transcending national boundaries and serving as a reminder of the potential for harmony among nations. Ángela’s role in this initiative was crucial; she not only conceptualized the project but also mobilized support and resources to bring it to fruition.

Despite her achievements, Ángela faced challenges in gaining recognition for her initiative. The gender discrimination in her time often led to her being overshadowed by male counterparts, even in initiatives she spearheaded. The media coverage of the statue’s inauguration frequently attributed the project to men, diminishing her role as the initiator. She had to fight for recognition of her contributions.⁸⁾

Nevertheless, she received lots of recognition from Argentinean and Chilean as well as European citizens. Among her supporters was Andrew Carnegie, the wealthiest and most famous industrialists of his time known for his philanthropic generosity. In several public speeches, Carnegie lauded the Christ of the Andes as an exemplary pacifist action, even suggesting that the statue could serve as a model to be replicated worldwide. But not everyone shared the same enthusiasm for Ángela’s idea. For example, the Argentinean signatory of the treaty between Argentina and Chile and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Terry, opposed the idea of depicting the statue with two women representing Chile and Argentina, with the latter resembling Ángela given her centrale role as the initiator of the project.⁹⁾

Regional pacifism through the ASAPU

In response to these challenges, Ángela established the Asociación Sud-Americana de Paz Universal (South American Association for Universal Peace) in 1907 in Buenos Aires. The founding document of the association explicitly recognized her as the initiator and lifelong leader,¹⁰⁾ marking a significant step towards asserting her agency in the public sphere. Under her leadership, the association organized conferences, published materials on pacifism, and sought to engage both men and women in discussions about peace and international relations.

President Julio Argentino Roca highlighted:

“I see indeed that you [Ángela], with your faith and perseverance, are making real ‘miracles’ […]. Your work is great. Let´s pacify the world!”¹¹⁾

This association served as a platform for women’s activism, promoting the ideals of international pacifism during a period of significant political and social change in Latin America and was the first one of its kind in Latin America. The association’s activities were characterized by a commitment to non-governmental diplomacy, emphasizing the vital role of women in peace efforts.

 

Contributions to international pacifism

Ángela wanted to ensure that her projects and initiatives received government support so that they could be extended to the international scene. She sought to have her undertakings presented at the Second International Peace Conference in The Hague in 1907, but the Argentinean president did not understand “Ángelita’s” intentions to be mentioned as the initiator of the monument in all the major peace congresses in the following years. Even her brother-in-law, Eduardo Wilde, who served as an ambassador in Brussels at that time, remarked that everything that was done at these Congresses would not go beyond mere words.¹²⁾

But Ángela would not rest. She submitted her speech to the Second National Peace Congress in Chicago in May 1909,¹³⁾ which was read aloud in her absence.¹⁴⁾ She also attended the 1909 Peace Congress in Belgium, meeting many figures of pacifism, in particular Bertha von Suttner (portrayed in the “Outstanding Women” calendar of 2022) and Frédéric Passy. Her participation there was well received by the general public. In this context, she was appointed as a member to the permanent commission of the Bureau International de la Paix, one of the world´s oldest NGOs for international peace, where she served as speaker for Argentina and the wider Latin American region.[4]

Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize

Ángela’s correspondence with prominent pacifists highlights her commitment to fostering a global dialogue on peace. Her commitment was rewarded: In 1911, she was the first Latin American woman to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, a testament to her international influence and efforts. Her nomination by Carlos Rodrigues Larreta (1868-1926), a nationality Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, was supported by notable figures in Argentinean politics and academia and her brother-in-law Eduardo Wilde, further solidifying her status as a key advocate for peace. Though she ultimately did not receive the prize, this nomination remains a particularly remarkable achievement given her lack of public funds or official help.¹⁵⁾

A pioneer of international peace and female diplomacy

Throughout her life, Ángela de Oliveira Cézar de Costa navigated the complexities of being a woman in a predominantly male field. Her experiences reflect the broader struggles faced by women in diplomacy and public life during that period. While she encountered resistance and skepticism from some male contemporaries, she also garnered support and admiration from others who recognized her contributions. Her ability to articulate a vision of peace that resonated with both men and women allowed her to carve out a unique space for herself in the diplomatic landscape. Ángela thus laid the groundwork for future generations of women in the field of international and “female” diplomacy.

 Special thanks to Professor Paula Bruno from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for providing the author with further references and illustrations.

 

Further readings:

• Oliveira Cézar de Costa, Ángela, The Christ of the Andes, in: The Independent, vol. LIX, n.o 2966, Ney York, 05.10.1905, pp. 804-808.
• Bruno, Paula, Embajadora de la paz: Ángela Oliveira Cézar, “diplomacia femenina”, confraternidad americana y pacifismo internacional en el pasaje del siglo XIX al XX in: Revista Páginas, año 14, 2022 (available here).
• Bruno, Paula, La Asociación Sud-Americana de Paz Universal y Ángela Oliveira Cézar: pacifismo, activismo trasnacional y «diplomacia femenina» in: Amérique Latine Histoire
• et Mémoire, Les Cahiers ALHIM, 47/2024, L’engagement social et politique des écrivaines et intellectuelles latino- américaines (1880-1930), published 5^th June 2024 (available here).
• Bruno, Paula, Las mujeres que trenzaron la paz in: Revista Clarín, 27.03.2023 (available here).
• Bruno, Paula, De consortes a embajadoras in: Revista Clarín, 04.03.2022, updated 21.03.2023 (available here).
• Bruno, Paula/Pita, Alexandra/Alvarado, Marina, Embajadoras culturales: mujeres latinoamericanas y vida diplomatica, 1890-1960, 1a ed – Rosario: Prohistoria Ediciones; Mexico: Instituto Panamericano de Geografía e Historia, 2022.
• Ceresole de Espinaco, Zunilda, La primera pacifista americana in: El Litoral, 05.03.2016 (available here).
• Corsani, Patricia V., El Cristo Redentor entre argentinos y chilenos ó la representación de la Paz perpetua entre los pueblos in: Jornadas de Humanidades, Historia del Arte, “La crisis de la representación”, Bahía Blanca 2005 (available here).
• Fetter, Frank W., A South American Myth: The Christ of the Andes Inscription, The Hispanic American Historical Review, vol. 12, no. 1, 1932, pp. 87–92 (available here).
• Norderval, Ingunn, Women and the Nobel Peace Prize, 2021, Chapter 2 (see).