The Virgin of Candelaria is set to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife in October 2025. This announcement was made official by the Bishopric of Tenerife to the city’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, during his visit to the town hall last week. Further details were disclosed today during a meeting held at the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, revealing that La Morenita’s visit will occur between October 11 and 24.
During last Thursday’s meeting with the mayor, diocesan administrator Antonio Pérez from the Nivariense diocese, along with the vicar of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and parish priest of La Concepción, Juan Manuel Yanes, informed him that, following a seven-year hiatus after the last pilgrimage, the image will return to Santa Cruz in October of next year. The visit is themed under the motto “Mary, candle of hope.”
The discussion with the mayor highlighted the importance of coordinating various departments within the City Council to ensure the successful execution of the event, in addition to collaborating with other involved administrations, including the Bishopric of Tenerife and Candelaria City Council, among others.
The mayor acknowledged the significance of this event for the Christian community, affirming that the City Council will act as a cooperative body, ensuring adequate arrangements for the safety of attendees and the effective functioning of public services during the occasion.
Bishop Felipe Fernández, in 2001, initiated a pilgrimage for the patron saint of the Canary Islands every seven years, alternating between Santa Cruz, the island’s capital, and La Laguna, the capital of the Diocese. Consequently, the Virgin visited Santa Cruz in 2002 and La Laguna in 2009. However, the anticipated return to the capital in 2016 was postponed until 2018, coinciding with the celebration of the Nivariense Diocese’s bicentennial (which will occur in 2019), when La Morenita went on pilgrimage to both cities. Since then, the seven-year cycle resumed, meaning the image will once again visit Santa Cruz in 2025 and La Laguna in 2032.
The Bishopric of Tenerife confirmed today that the visit to the island’s capital will commence on Saturday, October 11. “The image will stay in the parish of La Concepción throughout these two weeks. The last visit was an extraordinary occasion for Santa Cruz and La Laguna during the Diocese’s Bicentennial in 2018. However, we are now returning to the traditional seven-year cycle established by Bishop Felipe Fernández,” Antonio Pérez explained.
Regarding the route, Yanes noted it will closely resemble previous visits. “The image will pause in the Barranco Hondo area, at the bottom of the highway, marking Candelaria’s farewell. It will then enter the municipality of El Rosario. Following this, it will pass through the lower part of El Tablero, via El Pilarito, where the mayor of Santa Cruz will extend greetings. Subsequently, it will proceed through the Taco intersection into La Laguna. We still need to confirm the precise locations within Santa Cruz.”
