The Archdiocese of Panama will live in September a historical moment by celebrating the centenary of its elevation as a metropolitan headquarters and the jubilee for the 512 years of the creation of the first diocese on the mainland of the American continent, Santa María la Antigua del Darién.
Within the framework of these commemorations, the image of the Patroness of Panama will receive the pontifical coronationdistinction granted by Pope Leo XIV.
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In an interview with ACI PRENDA, Fr. Efraín de León, Vicar of Pastoral and Coordinator of the Holiday, stressed that this recognition “is a historical fact for the Panamanian Church, and especially for the pontifical coronation of the venerated image of Santa María la Antigua, Patron of Panama, as a recognition of the love, devotion and fidelity of our people towards the mother of the Lord, as well as to his constant intercession in our history.
The crown, the result of the collaboration of numerous faithful, will be presented on Sunday, September 7 in the ruins of the former Panama Cathedral La Vieja, during a Mass chaired by the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Dagoberto Campos Salas. The day will begin at 5:30 pm (local time) with the image procession, and will conclude with an artistic representation that will evoke the arrival of faith to these lands and the centenary of the archdiocese.
The central celebration will be on Tuesday, September 9, Fiesta de Santa María la Antigua, with the pontifical coronation during the 10:00 am Mass in the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral, chaired by Mons. José Ángel Saiz Meneses, archbishop of Seville, metropolitan headquarters on which Panama depended in the beginnings of evangelization.
P. de León stressed that “Panama and all of Latin America is a totally Marian people … Thus our story begins under the invocation of our mother of ancient.”
He explained that, as part of the jubilee, pilgrimages, areas and vicaries, include spaces for confession, have been organized. “It has been a big thing … the priests have not been supplied to serve so many eager people, eager to win indulgence,” he said.
In addition, he said that the preparation of this celebration has mobilized the entire Panamanian Church: “The choirs are preparing, encouraging … each in their particularity is striving for this event of the Church and the Panamanian Church.”
He recalled that Santa María la Antigua del Darién was a precursor to the current city of Panama and the first city founded by the Spaniards on the American Firm. In this regard, he highlighted the evolution of the local church, particularly in the participation of the laity: “Panama unlike other countries in the region is a church where the laity has a very important participation … it is a church that walks in hope, but that has long lights towards the future, because it is renewing step by step.”
Diego López Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I work as a digital journalist. I started my career in the newspaper El Comercio in Peru. In 2016, I began as editor in ACI Press and I perform as a web editor since 2018. From 2024, I write the Newsletter for Social Media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.