00:00We continue with the news. In Argentina, preparations are in full swings for Pope Leo's visits to the historic Basilica
00:08of Our Lady of Lujan, where he will celebrate a mass. I.A.N.'s Nessis has the details.
00:19The Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan will be the imposing monument of faith that will welcome Pope Leo XIV
00:25during his visit to Argentina, just as it did for John Paul II in June 11, 1982, in the middle
00:32of the Malvinas War.
00:34The Pope prayed before the Virgin, left the golden rose as a gift, and prayed for the righteous peace.
00:43Being here for a Catholic like me is wonderful. It's like a gift to be so close to God and
00:48the Mother. It's a privilege.
00:54Its origins take back to 1685, when a small chapel was built on the site. This was a mandatory stop
01:00on the Royal Road to Upper Peru.
01:02After a long history, it was demolished in 1905. The current church was inaugurated in 1910, and is dedicated to
01:10Our Lady of Lujan, the patron saint of Argentina.
01:13This is why it is considered the country's national shrine.
01:22People come from everywhere all the time to express their gratitude to us for something, or simply to connect with
01:28what this place is all about.
01:31It feels very powerful, not just what one might expect from pilgrimage and such, but in everyday life. Lots of
01:40people all the time. Whether it's everyday people, pilgrims, or the community itself. It's something very powerful and beautiful too.
01:55There are people who come here with such great emotion and faith that have seen their wishes come true. They
02:04come true.
02:04There's a healing mass today at seven, and on the third Friday of every month, there's a healing mass here.
02:11A woman came with two major problems and an amazing faith.
02:14This week, she told me that both problems had been resolved miraculously. She said because they were problems that couldn't
02:21be solved so quickly. In other words, people have such strong faith that the Virgin listens to them.
02:31The Little Virgin's mantle is changed every May 5th. That mantle is cut into small one-by-one squares and
02:38distributed to the faithful as a holy card.
02:41In addition to daily worshipers, millions of faithful gather at this basilica each year after making a pilgrimage of kilometers
02:48and kilometers.
02:49Now, it will once again open the door to serve as a venue for the Supreme Pontius meeting with the
02:55community.
02:56Informa Ian Messi, from Telesur Argentina.
