Retirement in Mauritius Tip #9: A Shrine Built for Peace
Imagine the year is 1940. Much of the world is at war, cities are being destroyed, and millions of people are living in fear.
Here in Mauritius, far from the battlefields of Europe, the Bishop of Port Louis made an extraordinary decision. He built this shrine and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary under her title “Queen of Peace”—or, in French, Marie Reine de la Paix. It would become a place to pray for peace during the Second World War and for the protection of the people of Mauritius.
At its heart stands a magnificent three-metre statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from the same white Carrara marble once used by Michelangelo and brought all the way from Italy.
Over the decades, this has become far more than a Catholic shrine. People of many faiths come here to reflect, admire the breathtaking views over Port Louis, and enjoy a rare sense of calm above the city.
The shrine has witnessed some of the most important moments in Mauritian religious history and has welcomed both Pope John Paul II in 1989 and Pope Francis in 2019, who celebrated Mass here before tens of thousands of people.
More than eighty-five years after it was built, Marie Reine de la Paix still stands as a reminder that even in humanity's darkest moments, people can choose hope over fear, peace over conflict, and faith in a better future.
Scott Oliver is a retired British writer and independent researcher living in Mauritius. A former Royal Marines Commando and former Wall Street investment professional, he has spent more than four decades living and working internationally across 14 countries. During that time, he worked extensively in international wealth management, cross-border asset protection, international business structuring and global residency planning.
Today, Scott's focus is no longer on managing money or providing professional advice. Instead, through MauritiusWealth.mu, he writes independent educational articles designed to help successful African business owners ask better questions, make better decisions and, when appropriate, identify the right expertise to help protect everything they have spent a lifetime building.
His articles are published solely for general educational and informational purposes and should not be regarded as legal, financial, tax, immigration, investment or other professional advice. Every business owner's circumstances are unique, and readers requiring professional assistance should always consult an appropriately qualified and licensed professional.