Basílica In
Cartago Closed This Weekend And Next
Earlier this week it was announced that the
ministerio de Salud and the Catholic church
had jointly decided to suspend this year's
romeria (walk to Cartago) and to close the
Basílica de los Ángeles the weekend of
August 1.
However, Catholic priest Jorge Eddy
Solórzano said yesterday that the closure
was by an order of the ministerio de Salud
and not a decision by the church.
The ministra de Salud, Maria Luisa Avila,
announced the decision on Tuesday to avoid
the spreading of the AH1N1 virus, which
according to health officials could infected
up to 20.000 people.
Many have decided to make their annual
pilgrimage early, with the intent to visit
the Basílica this weekend, one week early
and as such the ministerio de Salud has
ordered the Basílica closed this weekend as
well.
Solórzano spoke out following criticism by
the faithful who are not in agreement with
closing the Basílica, breaking a more than
200 year tradition.
For many, the Virgen de Los Angeles is the
"mother of all Costa Ricans".
The priest confirmed that the church will
heed to the order and will not wait for
health officials to come to close down the
Basílica.
Solórzano was emphatic that there will be no
masses at the Basílica on July 25, 26 and on
August 1 and 2.
The suspension of the romeria also means
substantial losses to many, the street
vendors who paid thousands of dollars to the
Municipalidad de Cartago to sell their
products, the church who invested thousands
in flowers to decorate the Basílica, the
Banco Crédito Agrícola who invested in a
special float for a parade.
The Municipalidad de Cartago mayor, Rolando
Rodríguez, said that his officials will be
vigilant to stop all types of street sales
and vendors as all permits are cancelled.
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