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Peru: Popular devotion gathers 100,000 pilgrims in Arequipa

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

There was no warning, recommendation or threat able to prevent thousands of pilgrims from arriving to the Chapi Sanctuary, like they do every year, to meet the promises they had made to their Patroness, the Virgin Mary of Chapi.

Pilgrims come from all over the country –some of them get there on foot-- and even from abroad, and meet here to visit their beloved Patroness, either requesting for a favour or expressing their thankfulness for the help already received from her.

This devotion started in 1790 and today the faithful pilgrims take around 15 hours to walk 45 km through the night, leaning on rustic walking staffs to reach the desertic spot located at 2,420 meters above sea level, about 60km from Arequipa City.

Local authorities expected less pilgrims this year, due to the fears of the so-called swine flu, but in fact 100,000 people gathered at the sanctuary, a lot more more than last year.