Grand International Procession of the Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros)

A Peruvian devotion in the heart of Rome

The Grand International Procession of the Lord of Miracles is the most significant event of the year for the Peruvian and Latin American community living in the city of Rome, in the Lazio region. Every October—a month traditionally dedicated to this devotion in Peru and throughout the global Peruvian diaspora—the Cristo Morado is carried in a procession through the city center, uniting thousands of faithful, international brotherhoods, and curious onlookers.

The origins: Lima, 1651

The devotion to the Lord of Miracles began in the Pachacamilla district of Lima, where in 1651 an image of the crucified Christ, painted on a wall by an Angolan slave, miraculously survived a violent earthquake that leveled the surrounding buildings. Since then, the image has become a symbol of hope and resilience for the descendants of African slaves and the indigenous peoples of Peru. Today, the Señor de los Milagros is the most widely practiced Catholic devotion in the country and one of the most impressive religious manifestations in the world.

Santa Maria della Luce, home of the Cristo Morado

In Rome, the image of the Lord of Miracles is displayed year-round for the veneration of the faithful in the church of Santa Maria della Luce, located on Via della Luce in the heart of the Trastevere district. Since 2003, the church has served as the headquarters for the Latin American chaplaincy-mission of Rome, which brings together eighteen Spanish and Portuguese-speaking migrant communities residing in the capital. This is the hub for novenas, Spanish-language masses, and prayer sessions that lead up to the great October procession.

The procession and its participants

The Roman procession faithfully reproduces the roles and rituals of the Lima tradition, passed down through generations:

• The cargadores (bearers): brothers in purple tunics who carry the heavy float on their shoulders, rotating in teams along the entire route;
• The sahumadoras: women who precede the procession walking backward, never turning their backs on the Christ, scattering incense from their censers as a sign of reverence and purification;
• The cantoras and male singers, who accompany the journey with traditional Peruvian hymns;
• Over forty brotherhoods arriving from across Europe and the Americas, giving the procession its authentically international character.

The route and the papal blessing

The highlight is the arrival of the float in St. Peter's Square, reached via Via della Conciliazione. In the 2025 edition, the image entered the square in the early hours of Sunday, and at noon, following the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV blessed the Lord of Miracles and the gathered devotees; in the afternoon, a mass was held in the Vatican Basilica. According to the organizers, the number of participants—including bearers, incense-bearers, and singers—exceeded seven hundred, joined by hundreds of faithful and spectators along the route.

Much more than a procession

The procession sparks a true popular festival: Peruvian flags, traditional costumes, brass bands, and above all, the festival's gastronomy, featuring traditional sweets linked to the devotion, such as turrón de Doña Pepa, sold at stalls set up by associations. For Rome's Peruvian community—one of the largest in Italy—it is the time of year when cultural identity, memory of their roots, and faith are most deeply intertwined.

Why it is worth attending

Attending the Grand International Procession of the Lord of Miracles means seeing Rome transform, for one day, into a Latin American plaza. It is a free, outdoor event open to everyone, which clearly demonstrates the multicultural dimension of the contemporary capital and the city's ability to embrace and make its own a tradition born on the other side of the ocean nearly four centuries ago.