ARGENTINA: Argentines mark Good Friday with Stations of the Cross procession through humble neighbourhood in the capital city of Buenos Aires

Record ID: 447328

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentines mark Good Friday with Stations of the Cross procession through humble neighbourhood in the capital city of Buenos Aires
  • Date: 30th March 2013
  • Summary: FAITHFUL HOLDING TORCHES VARIOUS OF WOMAN DRESSED AS THE VIRGIN MARY, CONTEMPLATING
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAEMGLXIZGFMIXY3LWJNT0WII71
  • Story Text: Wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a large wooden cross, a man dressed as Jesus led a procession through the streets of one of Buenos Aires' poorest neighbourhoods as part of the annual Stations of the Cross procession marking Good Friday (March 29).
    The faithful dressed as key Biblical figures as they re-enacted the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, when most Christian churches mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who they believe rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.
    They wound through the La Carcova villa, where 18,000 people live in poverty along the polluted Reconquista River.
    Devotees in the South American country have been celebrating the election of Pope Francis, Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church since it was announced on March 13.
    Father Jose Di Paulo, known as Father Pepe, knew Pope Francis and said his new position adds weight to the procession.

    "It's a day of reflection but also a very important spiritual moment in the context of the election of Pope Francis because he was one who would walk through these Buenos Aires neighbourhoods, so it's a very important spiritual moment," he said.
    Father Pepe said having an Argentine Pope has already renewed the faith of some who had walked away from the Roman Catholic church.

    "We've had people give their testimony that they returned to the church through this, that they had left for evangelical churches and they returned. They were people who had distanced themselves from the faith and Pope Francis' gestures had an impact on them and caused them to return to be part of the church."
    As the man dressed as Jesus hung from a cross, the faithful reflected on the sight and prayed.
    Latin America is home to approximately 42 percent of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
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