Abstract
Luján is considered the religious heart of Argentina, attracting pilgrims from all over the world. Among the pilgrimages across the world, there is also a Polish pilgrimage organized every year by Polish communities in Buenos Aires for the Polish Argentines. The purpose of this article is to examine the changes in the number of pilgrims, administered sacraments and celebrated masses in Luján from 2019 to 2023. The research shows that after a sharp decline in the number of pilgrims from 5 million in 2019 to 1 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a resurgence in pilgrimages, with over 6 million pilgrims worldwide in 2023. The article analyses empirical data collected through in-depth interviews with 25 Argentines of Polish descent (n = 25). Its purpose is to examine how the motives and intentions of these individuals for making a pilgrimage to Luján have changed before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as significance of the pilgrimage for each of them. The research clearly demonstrates that the pandemic has strengthened the faith of Polish pilgrims living in Argentina, who now view pilgrimages to Luján and entrusting their intentions to the Virgin Mary as a personal obligation.
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I would like to confirm that no tests on human beings, animals, or tissues have been conducted for the purposes of the article. The article on " Pilgrimage to Luján in Argentina with special consideration to Argentines of Polish descent during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—the spiritual aspect” for the Journal of Religion and Health journal presents the research results obtained on the basis of the answers of respondents collected by means of the interview. Each person who was doing an interview at the beginning, was given the following information: "I hereby would like to kindly ask you to provide your responses based on your feelings, knowledge, and experience. The results will be used exclusively for scientific purposes in the form of a summary”. The study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and according to local legislation and national guidelines on research involving human subjects, ethical approval was not required.
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Ziółkowska-Weiss, K. Pilgrimage to Luján in Argentina with Special Consideration to Argentines of Polish Descent During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Spiritual Aspect. J Relig Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02186-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02186-2