Thousands of pilgrims walk 60 kilometers to Luján for the annual youth pilgrimage
Thousands of Catholic pilgrims arrived at the Basilica of Luján early Sunday morning after completing a grueling 60-kilometer walk from the neighborhood of Liniers in Buenos Aires, infobae.com reported. The annual youth pilgrimage took place under a clear sky following a night of cold and rain that prompted participants to wear transparent impermeables along the route.
During the central Sunday Mass, Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva delivered a homily denouncing violence, intolerance, and verbal disqualifications in Argentine society. The archbishop described the religious journey as a space free from ideological divides and exclusions, urging the massive gathering of faithful to exchange a sign of peace.
From San Cayetano to the Basilica of Luján
The traditional journey began outside the Church of San Cayetano in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Liniers, where crowds gathered under rain umbrellas and carried religious statues, rosaries, flags, and estampillas. Walkers followed a route alongside the Sarmiento railway tracks and Avenida Rivadavia, which transitions into National Route 7.
The procession crossed through the districts of Tres de Febrero, La Matanza, Morón, Ituzaingó, Merlo, Moreno, and General Rodríguez. Throughout the overnight trek, volunteers assisted arriving participants with food and foot massages to help them cope with the physical strain of the journey.
This year’s youth pilgrimage operated under the official motto “Mother, in your embrace we recognize ourselves as brothers.” Participants also marked the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to the country, scheduled for November 8 to 11, during various moments along the route and inside the sanctuary.
Archbishop García Cuerva denounces social intolerance
Addressing the crowds gathered in Plaza Belgrano outside the neogothic basilica, Archbishop García Cuerva focused his message on the social wounds affecting the country. He stated that the scars of disqualification and violence are actively harming the heart of the population.
“The wounds of disqualification, intolerance, and physical and verbal violence ooze, and it seems the heart of the people is becoming infected,” García Cuerva said during his homily.
Following the archbishop’s address, priests continued to hold successive masses inside the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Luján throughout Sunday as thousands of exhausted but relieved faithful filled the interior and surrounding plaza to view the head image of the Virgin of Luján displayed near the main altar.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Luján Pilgrimage
What is the distance of the youth pilgrimage to Luján?
The traditional walking route covers approximately 60 kilometers from the starting point at the Church of San Cayetano in Liniers to the Basilica of Luján.
What was the official motto for this year’s pilgrimage?
The official motto for the event was “Mother, in your embrace we recognize ourselves as brothers.”
Which municipalities do participants pass through on the way to Luján?
The walking route traverses the Buenos Aires districts of Tres de Febrero, La Matanza, Morón, Ituzaingó, Merlo, Moreno, and General Rodríguez.
“Démosnos un abrazo de paz, los unos a los otros.”
Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva
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