Salta prepares for Milagro religious festival amid economic concerns

Preparations are underway for the Milagro, the most significant religious festival in Salta, Argentina. The Salta Police reported that ten pilgrimages are currently en route to the Cathedral, with 220 groups registered so far. While this is fewer than the approximately 300 groups recorded last year, officials expect numbers to rise in the coming days. To manage the event, a pilgrim monitoring center is operating for the third consecutive year, utilizing the ‘Soy Peregrino’ app to coordinate with police, Gendarmerie, and Federal Police.

Amidst the festivities, Monsignor Dante Bernacki highlighted the severe microeconomic challenges facing local communities. He noted a significant decline in the middle class and increasing hardship for retirees and informal workers. Bernacki observed that many families are struggling with rising debt and the inability to cover basic necessities, stating that while macroeconomic figures may show progress, the daily reality for many is a struggle to afford food and essential goods.