Luján, Argentina: Difference between revisions

'''Luján''' is a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, located approximately 68 kilometers northwest of the city of Buenos Aires. As of the 2022 census, it has a population of 100,541. Luján holds significant importance in Argentine Catholicism as the site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, which houses the image of the Virgin of Luján, the patroness of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, drawing millions of pilgrims annually.

=== Early Settlement ===

According to historical records, the area around Luján was the site of early conflicts between Spanish explorers and indigenous peoples. The city is named after Captain Pedro Luján, a conquistador who perished in a battle with local indigenous groups in 1536.<ref name="wiki">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luj%C3%A1n,_Buenos_Aires|title=Luján, Buenos Aires|publisher=Wikipedia|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> The formal founding of Luján as a settlement occurred in 1755, when it was established as a villa by the Spanish colonial authorities. Evidence suggests that by this time, the area had already become a focal point for travelers and settlers due to its position along the Luján River.<ref name="wiki" />

The Catholic presence in Luján dates back to the 17th century. According to hagiographic tradition, in 1630, a terracotta statue of the Immaculate Conception, intended for a chapel in Santiago del Estero, was being transported from Brazil via Buenos Aires. The caravan stopped near the Luján River, and the oxen refused to move until the crate containing the statue was removed. This event was interpreted by the faithful as a miraculous sign that the Virgin wished to remain in the area.<ref name="gcath">{{cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/merc1.htm|title=Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján|publisher=GCatholic.org|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> A small chapel was built to house the image, entrusted to a enslaved African man known as Manuel, who served as its guardian until his death in 1686. Over time, devotion grew, leading to the construction of larger shrines. In 1671, land was donated for expansion, and by 1763, a more substantial church was erected.<ref name="vatican">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html|title=Vatican Official Site|publisher=Vatican.va|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> The image was canonically crowned in 1887 by authority of Pope Leo XIII.

=== Modern Faith Life ===

In the modern era, Luján has become Argentina's premier pilgrimage site. As of 2025, the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, completed in 1937, attracts over six million visitors annually, many walking from Buenos Aires in annual pilgrimages.<ref name="arquidiocesis">{{cite web|url=https://arquimercedes-lujan.com.ar/|title=Arquidiócesis Mercedes Luján|publisher=Official Diocesan Website|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref> The feast day on May 8 draws large crowds, and the site has been visited by notable figures, including Pope John Paul II in 1982, who bestowed a Golden Rose upon the image. Pope Francis, a native Argentine, has also honored the Virgin of Luján. The archdiocese promotes ongoing evangelization through retreats, youth events, and charitable works centered around the basilica.

* Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio (1920–1998), though born elsewhere, was beatified in Luján in 2023 and had strong ties to the archdiocese.<ref name="arquidiocesis" />