St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Cathedral in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic Roman Catholic church facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul. Its central nave rises 26 meters, while the two main towers reach 83 meters, making it the largest Neo-Gothic Catholic temple in South America by area. The facade is finished with plaster, and the east side received its rendering only in 1977.

A chapel was built on this site from 1855, completed in 1863 under Guilherme Lewis, with Manoel J. da Conceição Braga as first parish priest. The present cathedral was begun on 1 February 1928 to a design by Simão Gramlich, then led by engineer Ernesto Matheis. The church was ready on 2 August 1936, but finishing works lasted until 1977, when two large and six smaller towers were built and the east side plastered. It became a cathedral in 1959 with the creation of the Diocese of Santa Cruz do Sul.

The cathedral serves as the religious center for the local Roman Catholic community and draws visitors interested in its architecture or attending services. People gather here for special occasions and religious celebrations, making it an important meeting place for the community.

Visitors should plan to come during service times to fully experience the interior, with regular schedules available for reference. The church provides access for people with mobility needs through designated pathways and appropriate facilities.

The stained glass was made by the German immigrant family firm Veit & Filhos, with Albert Gottfrid Veit, Leopod Höpf, Joseph Veigel, Albert Joseph Georg Veit, Hans Veit and Albert Höpf. Eduardo Rieger assembled the clock, and Raul Koehler made the door. Behind the altar hangs the painting "Grupo de Cruz", first painted by Arno Seer and later by Roman Riesch.