Itatí Basilica hosts 400,000 pilgrims for annual youth pilgrimage

Approximately 400,000 pilgrims participated in the 47th Youth Pilgrimage of the Northeast Argentina (NEA) to the Basilica of Itatí. Despite rain and mud, delegations from ten dioceses across Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa, Misiones, and northern Santa Fe completed the journey, which involved walking or cycling over 70 kilometers.

During the central Mass, Archbishop José Adolfo Larregain and other regional bishops delivered messages focused on the theme ‘Walking with Mary to heal, dream, and serve.’ The clergy urged the youth to reject consumerism and instead focus on spiritual growth, social commitment, and the capacity to dream of a more humane world amidst difficult national circumstances.

A large-scale security operation was conducted by the Corrientes Police in coordination with national forces, including Gendarmerie and Civil Defense, to ensure the safety of the massive crowds. The operation utilized hundreds of officers, vehicles, drones, and horses to manage the influx of people along National Route 12.