Vatican: historic procession of the Lord of Miracles with blessing from Pope Leo XIV

On Sunday, October 19, the Great International Procession of the Lord of Miracles will take place in Rome, which will conclude in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican to receive the blessing of Pope Leo XIV.

Representatives of the brotherhoods of the Lord of Miracles from Peruvian communities residing in some 40 cities in South America, the United States and Europe, will arrive in Rome to share one of the most deeply rooted expressions of faith and popular devotion in Peru.

The event is organized by the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in Rome with the support of the Embassy of Peru to the Holy See and will take place on October 18 and 19.

The image of the Lord of Miracles will be blessed by Pope Leo XIV and later a Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Peruvian embassy said in a statement.

In this event, the participation of more than 700 devotees is expected, who will be joined by hundreds of faithful who will travel more than 3 kilometers in a procession.

The event will be presented in Rome next Tuesday, October 14, by the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Peru to the Holy See, Minister Manuel Carrasco; the steward of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in Rome, Wilmer Oblitas; and will be moderated by Dr. Alessandro Gisotti, deputy editorial director of Vatican media.

The presentation will also feature a video message from Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto and testimonies from members of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles will be shared.

A symbol of Peruvian faith and culture that transcends borders

The Lord of Miracles is the most important Catholic devotion in Peru and one of the most massive religious manifestations in the world. Its origin dates back to the 17th century, when an Angolan slave in Lima painted an image of Christ crucified on an adobe wall that miraculously withstood the earthquakes that devastated the city in 1655 and 1687.

Since then, every October thousands of faithful in Peru accompany the procession of the image, dressed in the traditional purple habit, in a testimony of faith and popular unity.

Currently, this tradition has expanded to the five continents, accompanying Peruvian communities abroad.

In cities around the world, the procession brings together thousands of devotees, becoming a symbol of identity, hope and fraternity for Peruvians abroad and a cultural bridge with their host countries.

The traditional procession of the Lord of Miracles and the Holy Mass in Rome take on a particular meaning this year due to the Jubilee of Hope and also coincides with the first months of the pontificate of a Holy Father, Peruvian “at heart”, who repeatedly shows the deep affection he feels for this nation.

The Great International Procession will also have the participation of devotees from places such as Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Atlanta, Florida and Chile, among others.