Around 2 million people gathered, this Sunday (13), in Belém, to attend the procession of the Círio de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré. Considered the culmination of the annual event, which this year officially began last Tuesday (8), the pilgrimage, one of the largest in Brazil, was preceded by a mass presided over by the metropolitan archbishop, Dom Alberto Taveira Corrêa, who highlighted the usual mobilization of devotees.
“I ask that, today, as we pass through our streets, we commit to paving with dignity, respect, honor, and appreciation of human life, every space in this city and in the cities represented here – the closest and the most distant”, declared the archbishop during the ceremony, which began around 6 am and was celebrated on a stage set up in front of the Belém Metropolitan Cathedral.
The procession of the 232nd edition of the Círio officially started at 7:11 am. People, celebrities and public authorities followed the image of Our Lady along the almost 4-kilometer route between the Cathedral and the square of the Basilica Santuário Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, where the image of the saint was deposited at 12:22 pm and where there will be a second mass for celebrate the faith of the participants.
Amidst the strong heat and the crowd of people, devotees sang songs, prayed and gave thanks for the graces achieved. People carried posters with references to cured illnesses and fulfilled requests, while street vendors sold mineral water, ice cream, bags, religious items and souvenirs alluding to the Círio.
More than 8,000 public agents were mobilized to guarantee the security of the event, according to the Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense (Segup). “It is a moment of consecration for the people of Pará, who receive tens of thousands of tourists during this period. It really is a celebration of faith, in which public security also participates, very voluntarily”, commented the state secretary of Public Security, Ualame Machado, referring to the military personnel who volunteer to work on the occasion.
“The security forces are integrated so that they can, together with the Civil Defense, Red Cross, provide comfort and greater dynamism to the procession, in addition to guaranteeing the fluidity of traffic and people, so that everyone can exercise their faith in the best way possible. shape. Public security works months in advance to make this moment happen and so that people can enjoy it with complete peace of mind”, added Machado.
On social media, the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho, commented that he and his wife, Daniela Barbalho, follow the Círio every year. The First Lady of the Republic, Janja Lula da Silva, also posted a video on her personal account. Visibly moved, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva observes, from the so-called Varanda de Nazaré – created and promoted by the singer Fafá de Belém – the crowd singing along with Fafá the lyrics of Our Ladysong composed by Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos.
President Lula da Silva participates in the Círio de Nazaré procession – Ricardo Stuckert/PR
“So much gratitude for experiencing the Círio again and being able to be grateful for so many blessings on this journey. Faith, love and solidarity unite us”, wrote Janja. Yesterday (12), she and the president had already participated in the river pilgrimagea nautical event that is part of the broad Círio de Nazaré program and which, this year, brought together around 400 boats.
