The government of Buenos Aires Province has announced a comprehensive support operation for the 52nd Youth Pilgrimage to Luján, one of the largest religious events in Argentina, expected to draw 2 million participants this weekend. The pilgrimage, held under the motto «Madre, en tu abrazo nos reconocemos hermanos», will take place on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, with faithful walking 60 kilometers from Liniers in Buenos Aires City to the Basilica of Luján.
The operation, coordinated by the Governor's Office of Advisors, will involve multiple provincial ministries. The Ministry of Security will deploy officers from all areas, patrol cars, motorcycles, horses, a helicopter, lighting towers, Civil Defense logistical support, and monitoring drones. The Ministry of Health will provide mobile hospitals, ambulances, a mobile shock room with medical staff, a medical helicopter, and coordination with Health Region 7 to reinforce guards at provincial and municipal hospitals.
The Ministry of Community Development will assist pilgrims with five food stations, 80 chemical toilets, and personnel from the Childhood and Adolescence Agency to accompany children and adolescents. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Services will set up water supply points through ABSA, lighting towers, and generators with fuel. The Ministry of Transport will prohibit vehicle traffic along the route and provide vehicles to organize traffic, while the Ministry of Environment will place recycling separation points along the entire route.
The pilgrimage, which has been held uninterrupted since 1975, is the most massive religious event in the country. Participants will begin the walk in Liniers, traversing the municipalities of Tres de Febrero, La Matanza, Morón, Ituzaingó, Merlo, Moreno, and General Rodríguez before arriving at the Basilica. At the end of the route, the faithful will share in masses celebrated at the Sanctuary of Luján, under the Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján, led by Father Lucas García.
The operation reflects the scale of the event, which requires coordination across security, health, infrastructure, and social services. The provincial government's support aims to ensure the safety and well-being of the millions of pilgrims expected to participate in the two-day event.