International Desk, (EFE).- As Eastern Week unfolds across Latin America, millions of Catholics commemorate the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through colorful processions, deep spiritual reflection, and longstanding traditions.
In countries like Honduras, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, these days reveal not only religious devotion but also broader social and cultural dynamics.
Calls for reflection and responsibility in Honduras
In Honduras, a predominantly Catholic nation of about 10 million people located in Central America, Eastern Week processions filled the streets of cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
During the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) on Good Friday, Archbishop José Vicente Nácher urged believers not to mock those who suffer and to remain steadfast in faith even when facing doubts and ridicule.
In San Pedro Sula, Archbishop Miguel Lenihan directed his message at politicians, urging them to seek office not for personal gain but to genuinely serve the Honduran people.
With general elections approaching in November, Lenihan emphasized the urgent need for leaders committed to reducing insecurity, improving employment, and restoring dignity.
Throughout the country, many Hondurans participated in the Via Crucis through Catholic media broadcasts, and colorful carpets made of dyed sawdust decorated the streets, a cherished Holy Week tradition.
Culture and economic realities collide in Argentina and Mexico
In Argentina, South America’s second-largest country, Eastern Week traditions reveal a strong cultural attachment to beef.
Despite the national economic crisis and soaring prices, a study by the Latin American Foundation for Fishing Sustainability (FULASP) found that only three in ten Argentines plan to eat fish during Easter, while the majority continue to prefer beef, even though fish can be up to 70% cheaper.
Argentina’s per capita fish consumption remains the lowest in Latin America at 11.2 pounds per year, compared to 28.5 pounds in Chile or 10 pounds in Brazil.
Meanwhile, in Atlixco, Puebla, about two hours southeast of Mexico City, forty Mexicans known as Los Engrillados (The Shackled ones) celebrated the 40th anniversary of a unique Holy Week ritual.
Participants, both men and women, carried 55 to 176 pounds of chains and pierced their witch cactus thorns while walking about two miles in honor of Christ’s suffering.
Pilgrimages and reflection in Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Uruguay
In Managua, Nicaragua’s capital, a Via Crucis led by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes took place inside the Cathedral’s gardens, due to restrictions on public processions.
Devotees, many barefoot or blindfolded, carried statues and prayed with fervor before a new image of the Blood of Christ, replacing the centuries-old statue destroyed by fire in 2020.
Despite challenges, faith remains central for many Nicaraguans, 58.5% of whom identify as Catholic.
In Bolivia’s La Paz, neighbors from the Villa Armonía district recreated the Passion of Christ at dawn, following a steep, rocky path decorated with colorful Andean textiles (aguayos).
Each of the 14 stations along the two-hour journey provided moments for prayer and reflection on forgiveness and sacrifice.
Elsewhere, Uruguay, a small nation south of Brazil, saw more than 50,000 Argentines cross its borders during Holy Week, according to the National Directorate of Migration.
Many sought a peaceful holiday escape, highlighting the regional significance of these holy days not only for worship but also for travel and reunion.
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