As millions of Catholics gathered to celebrate The Virgin of Guadalupe Day, the Church called for a cartel truce. Their calls went unheeded as more were slain over the weekend. The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico’s patron saint, and pilgrims come from across the world to Mexico City to honor her. This marks the 493rd annual celebration since 1531.
Massive crowds come to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City every year to honor the Virgin. The mass of people traditionally sings “Las mañanitas” and engages in traditional dances. Many pilgrims walk hundreds of miles to the celebration as a sign of devotion. Authorities estimate that over 5 million faithful Catholics attended the event.
One Pilgrim, María Luisa Vázquez Mendoza, walked for 16 hours from the neighboring State of Mexico to visit the basilica. She came to “give thanks “for another year of life, and that my family is alright.” Mendoza explained how “You feel joy in your heart when you see the gates of the basilica so close,” said Vázquez Mendoza. “Your body relaxes completely. You don’t feel pain or tiredness anymore.”
Another attendee, 20-year-old Evelyn Pilón, came from Chiconcuac, a town on the outskirts of Mexico City, with a bone statue of the virgin. “We walked all night without stopping until now,” said Pilón, who is praying for the health of her baby son. “I felt a lot of emotion when I arrived because I was reminded of my baby. I couldn’t bring him because he is very sick.”
The journey to Mexico City is harsh and dangerous. Authorities say that 3 pilgrims were run over on the highway leading to the Mexican capital. 10 people were seriously injured in that incident. The millions of pilgrims descending on the city create traffic jams for weeks as the faithful clog the roads. However, there are other more serious dangers in Mexico.
Drug Cartels have long plagued Mexico with horrific violence. Mexican Council of Bishops released a statement begging for “a halt to the armed violence and hostile statements.” The Council added that “In a country where violence has left painful wounds in families and polarization among the public, this is a proposal to reflect, and act in favor of reconciliation and human dignity,”
The state of Guanajuato, located in the north of Mexico, had an even more deadly day than normal. Police in the beleaguered state, which reports the most murders of any of Mexico’s 32 states, found at least 15 corpses. The state averages 8.5 murders a day. In one macabre instance, police were unable to determine how many individuals were buried in a mass grave. Local media reported that the dismembered remains were wrapped in black plastic trash bags, a sure sign of Cartel violence.
Vázquez Mendoza is hopeful that the Church might convince gang members “to be a little more human, more conscious. One of the other pilgrims explained how important this day is to her: “I came to greet her on this day, which is very important for all Mexicans,” Peña Montaño says. “My heart was beating hard from so much emotion. I was very excited to arrive.”