The Strategic Operations Center (COE), located at the National University of Luján, served as the headquarters for overall event monitoring. Institutional efforts were coordinated there, with the participation of key authorities including the Governor’s Chief Advisor, Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez; the Mayor of Luján, Leonardo Boto; representatives from the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires; and officials from the Ministries of Worship, Institutional Communication, Urban Solid Waste, and Circular Economy. From that center, the operations were supervised, including mobile hospitals, medical helicopters, ambulances, patrol units, recycling points, a main stage with LED screens and lighting, and various complementary services.
Provincial Resolution No. 1469, in effect since 2022, regulates the protocols for large-scale religious mobilizations supported by the State. In line with that regulation, this year’s pilgrimage operation included four mobile hospitals, two helicopters (one for medical use and another for security purposes), fifteen ambulances, eighty portable toilets, more than two hundred patrol cars, seventy-six motorcycles, medical and civil defense personnel, and strategically located hydration, food, and recycling stations. Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez stated: “In the 51st Pilgrimage to Luján, no one walked alone: the provincial government was there to care for and assist every pilgrim.”
Institutional remarks also emphasized that this was the first edition held without the physical presence of Pope Francis, a figure who has traditionally supported this spiritual event. Nevertheless, it was noted that his spirit and blessing symbolically accompanied all who walked the route. In the words of the provincial official: “We know he was with us spiritually, accompanying the journey as always.”
The operation was a joint effort of multiple provincial ministries—Health, Infrastructure, Security, Community Development, Transportation, and Environment—working in close coordination with the municipalities of Tres de Febrero, La Matanza, Morón, Ituzaingó, Merlo, Moreno, General Rodríguez, and Luján. This inter-institutional cooperation ensured the harmonious functioning of essential services and allowed the pilgrimage to proceed with order, logistical scope, and attention to every emerging need.
The enormous number of participants confirms the massive and enduring nature of this collective spiritual expression. The pilgrimage represents not only an act of devotion but also a moment of social gathering, public testimony of faith, and community reaffirmation. The combination of the pilgrims’ effort, supported by both governmental and ecclesiastical organizations, resulted in a memorable day that will remain in the memory of many participants.
The massive turnout demonstrates that, even in challenging times, thousands choose to walk together, uphold their spiritual commitment, and receive institutional support. The 51st Pilgrimage to Luján will be remembered not only for its magnitude but also for the harmony between the human, the divine, and the organizational. In every step, a prayer; in every assistance station, a gesture of care; and at the destination, the House of the Mother who offers spiritual shelter to all who walk with hope.
