The Pope’s visit will put this treasured Argentine icon in the global spotlight

The Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, one of Argentina’s most important Catholic shrines, will take a global spotlight on November 11 when Pope Leo XIV celebrates mass there during his first apostolic visit to Argentina.

The pontiff is scheduled to arrive in Argentina on November 8 and remain in the country until November 11. During his four-day stay, he will attend several events and festivities in Buenos Aires and Córdoba before continuing on to Peru for the rest of his South American trip. 

The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope will travel to Luján, located 68 km from Buenos Aires City, on the final day of his Argentine stay. He will celebrate mass at 10 a.m. in the square in front of the basilica, an event that is expected to be attended by millions.

The visit carries particular significance because Luján is home to the Virgin of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina and an enduring symbol of the country’s Catholic identity. For generations, millions of Catholic faithful have traveled to the shrine to pray, with the annual pilgrimage being the crowning event.  

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno outlined the reasons for choosing Luján at a press conference in August, when the visit was confirmed: 

“It was a matter of significance to the Catholic community. Papal visits generally include the [national] capital and other locations. Luján was chosen for its significance to all Argentines [due to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján], and Córdoba for the prominence of the Catholic community there. Furthermore, it is centrally located in the country and accessible from other areas.”

A focus of devotion The basilica’s origin story dates back to the 17th century. According to folk history, two statuettes of the Virgin Mary were commissioned by a wealthy landowner in Northern Argentina and were being transported on an ox-driven cart in 1630 from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero. 

Upon reaching an area near the Luján River, the oxen refused to continue. They were changed, but the animals would not budge until one of the statuettes was removed from the cart. 

This was interpreted as a divine sign: the Virgin Mary wanted to remain in that area. Years later, a woman purchased the image and took it to her private chapel, but the following day it mysteriously returned to its original location. 

Eventually, it was transferred in a religious procession to Luján, and over the years, a succession of chapels and churches were built as the number of pilgrims increased. Construction of the present neo-Gothic basilica began in 1890, and the building was inaugurated and blessed in 1910.

The monumental church is one of the finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture in South America, drawing inspiration from the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre-Dame de Paris, Chartres, Reims, and Amiens. 

It combines the grandeur of medieval European cathedrals with elaborate sculptural details, colorful stained-glass windows, and a richly decorated interior. Medieval Gothic motifs and elements, such as an emphasized verticality, intricate ornamentation, and the spiritual symbolism of light, are also present.

The building’s most striking feature is its pair of soaring towers, each approximately 106 meters tall, crowned by slender spires and monumental crosses. Visible from a considerable distance across the relatively flat Pampas landscape, they give the basilica a dramatic, almost fantastical silhouette.

Pope Pius XI granted it the title of minor basilica in 1930, although construction was not fully completed until 1935.

The small statuette that gave origin to it all, approximately 38 centimeters tall, remains the focus of devotion today.

A place in Argentine history Luján has also become synonymous with pilgrimage. Every year, enormous crowds walk 12-18 hours from Buenos Aires to the shrine, often through difficult weather, demonstrating the enduring strength of the tradition.

This year’s pilgrimage, held just weeks before the Pope’s arrival, drew an estimated 2.7 million people, according to figures cited by the Buenos Aires provincial government.

Leo XIV’s visit will also have historical resonance: it will mark the second time a pope has visited the sanctuary. John Paul II became the first pope to visit the Luján shrine in 1982, celebrating mass before a huge crowd estimated at over one million people, during the height of the Malvinas War between Argentina and the U.K. 

He gave a message of peace, comfort, and hope to a distressed nation.

Another example of the country’s deep connection to the Virgin of Luján was the visit of the Argentine national football team on July 4, 1986, to fulfill a vow of thanks to the patron saint of Argentina, just a few days after defeating West Germany in the World Cup final in Mexico.