A humble chapel. That’s what it started as. But this is the Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya. More than a simple chapel it stands as a testament to faith. A beacon in Nueva Pompeya.
In 1895 Father Darío Broggi a priest from San Cristóbal had a vision. He saw the need for a place of worship in this swampy area. They called it the “frog district”. Father Broggi established a small chapel. He dedicated it to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii.
The foundation stone was blessed in 1896. It was on land donated by the Ladies of Charity. This wasn’t just any ordinary blessing. It marked the beginning of something special. Something grand. The neogothic style church was inaugurated in 1900. Though it was completed years later.
The Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya boasts a unique tall tower. It features a clock. The stained-glass windows came all the way from Zeller in Munich Germany. They are exquisite. Bathing the interior in a kaleidoscope of light.
The Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya wasn’t always as magnificent. Early on it was small. It couldn’t accommodate all the worshippers. So they built a larger church. A grander edifice.
Miracles happened. A young woman named María Luisa Calviño was cured of a mysterious illness. She vowed to make a pilgrimage to the chapel. More than 5000 people joined her in 1902. This influx of pilgrims transformed Nueva Pompeya. It helped the neighborhood flourish.
In 1906 the church officially became a parish. Archbishop Mariano Antonio Espinosa recognized its importance. He established the parish of Nueva Pompeya. In 1914 the beautiful shrine of the Virgin was inaugurated. It housed a magnificent carved image. A masterpiece by the Catalan sculptor Miguel Castellanas.
In 1922 the Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya witnessed another special event. A papal coronation of the Virgin’s image. It was a momentous occasion attended by hundreds of thousands. It solidified the Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya’s place in the hearts of the people.
In 2000 the Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya was consecrated as a sanctuary. Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio who later became Pope Francis performed the ceremony. The Capilla Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya remains one of the most visited churches in Buenos Aires. It continues to be a place of solace and hope. A testament to faith and resilience. A true gem of Nueva Pompeya.