Marvelous isn’t it? The Capilla del Sagrado Corazón stands before you. A testament to faith and family. This basilica in Barracas wasn’t just built it was a dream realized. A dream of Leonardo Pereyra Iraola. He envisioned a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He sadly passed away before its completion. His widow and six children fulfilled his wish.
The Capilla del Sagrado Corazón is more than just a beautiful building. It’s a piece of European religious art transplanted to Buenos Aires. Construction took just four years. From 1904 to 1908 over a thousand workers toiled. Imagine the effort the dedication.
This basilica boasts impressive dimensions. Eighty meters long and thirty meters across the transept. Seven altars grace its interior. All crafted from exquisite French marble. Giant 8.5 meter diameter rose windows bathe the interior in light. More than thirty stained glass windows further illuminate the space.
Many of the basilica’s treasures came from France. The magnificent organ a Mutin Cavaillé-Coll. The 165 pews still bear the numbers assigned by the French carpenter. The intricate baldachin supported by four columns with bas-reliefs is a unique feature. It’s a rare sight in Buenos Aires churches.
But the story of the Capilla del Sagrado Corazón goes beyond its architecture. It’s intertwined with the life of Pope Francis. One of Leonardo Pereyra Iraola’s brothers was Martín. Martín’s daughter Martha was a close friend of the future Pope. He even served as her confessor. He admired her deep faith and apostolic zeal. Pope Francis initiated her canonization process. He described her as “the tenderness of God who visited us”.
The Capilla del Sagrado Corazón is more than a place of worship. It is a family legacy a symbol of unwavering faith. It’s a magnificent structure. It’s a living testament to the enduring power of faith. A place of immense beauty and historical significance. A must-see for any visitor to Buenos Aires. A true jewel in the heart of Barracas.