The Votive Temple of Maipú (Chile) was the meeting point for hundreds of “motoqueros”—as motorcycling fans are known in some South American countries—who this Saturday participated in the second edition of “Bless your motorcycle,” an initiative called by the Archbishopric of Santiago and headed by Cardinal Fernando Chomali.
Nearly 500 representatives of motorcycle clubs and groups from different parts of Chile arrived in a caravan from Santiago’s O’Higgins Park to the National Sanctuary, carrying flags and demonstrating a deep sense of community and fraternity.
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Upon arriving in Maipú, the motorcycles were received with a show by the band “Cristo, Vida y Rock and Roll” and a fair of accessories and items for motorcyclists, giving color and joy to the afternoon.
Among the organizers of the day were the clubs “Not Club” and “Los Caballeros de la Ruta”.
When addressing those present, the Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Fernando Chomali, referred to human responsibility in the transit and assured: “This blessing invites us to grow in humanity from a perspective of faith.”
“That is something that the world needs and you (motorcycle riders) who have so many skills and abilities, I encourage you to assume these commitments that Chile needs,” he urged.
The rector of the sanctuary, Father Marcelo Aravena Gutiérrez, acknowledged that he proposed to the archbishop to do this activity “in a big way,” because this temple receives many people, with the idea that it becomes a tradition that is repeated year after year. In fact, there is already a date for the next one: October 3, 2026.
The meeting was also an opportunity to honor the deceased motorcycle riders, with an emotional video and a moment of prayer in their memory.
Then, the archbishop gave the blessing to motorcycles and helmets, sprinkling holy water on the vehicles and their drivers, who responded with honks and applause.
The organizers highlighted the importance of this gesture as a way to unite spirituality and road safety.
César Mesa, member of “Not Club”, thanked “the affection that has been generated around this activity”, and stated: “Motorcycling can be summarized in that we are all friends who do not know each other.”
For his part, Eduardo Rodríguez, from the club “The Knights of the Road” described motorcycling as “a passion and a different lifestyle.”
“I think that motorcycling is still a bubble compared to society, because there is a brotherhood, an honesty that is not seen,” he observed.
The day culminated with a sharing among those present, an official photo, talks and music.
Juliet Villar
I am a journalist, with a degree in communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 I have been dedicated to Catholic journalism, first at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as ACI Prensa correspondent for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.