Rome will play host to the masterpieces of the Andalucian Holy Week "El Cachorro" and the "Virgin of Hope" during the Procession of Confraternities
On Saturday 17 May 2025, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Confraternities, the city of Rome will play host to solemn and historic procession, which will be a powerful expression of faith, art and tradition. Numerous Confraternities from all over Italy and across Europe will take part in the event which will be divided into two distinct processions which will symbolically "meet" in the Circus Maximus.
Both routes will start at 2 pm. The main procession will start from Piazza Celimontana, while the secondary procession will start from Largo Cavalieri di Colombo. Pilgrims and tourists will be able to watch the procession along a cordoned off route.
The main procession will will follow Via Claudia, Via Celio Vibenna, then Via di S. Gregorio, Piazza di Porta Capena up to the Circus Maximus, before taking the road back to the Colosseum. Eight Confraternities from Portugal, Spain, Italy and France will participate in this procession, among them the Real e Venerável Irmandade do Santíssimo Sacramento de Mafra (Portugal), the Vatican Archconfraternity of Sant’Anna de’ Parafrenieri (Italy), the Cofradía del Dulce Nombre de Jesus Nazareno de León (Spain), the Ligurian Priory of Confraternities (Italy), the Archiconfrérie de la Sanch de Perpignan (France), and the Confraternity Maria SS. Addolorata from Enna (Italy).
Great excitement surrounds the presence of the Pontificia, Real e Ilustre Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración y Nuestra Madre y Señora del Patrocinio en su dolor y gloria from Seville (Spain) and the Pontificia y Real Archicofradía del Dulce Nombre de Jesús Nazareno del Paso y María Santísima de la Esperanza from Malaga (Spain) who will carry in procession two of the most venerated images from the Andalucian Holy Week celebrations: the Most Holy Christ of the Expiration, known as El Cachorro, from Seville, and the Most Holy Virgin of Hope, known as the Bride of Ronda, from Malaga. The Great Procession will start at 2pm from Celimontana Square, near the Colosseum.
The Cristo de la Expiración, a famous expression of Spanish Baroque sculpture, was created in 1682 by the sculptor Francisco Antonio Ruiz Gijón. Approximately 190 cm tall, the statue is one of the great symbols of Sevillian piety and is considered one of the most significant works of sacred art of the 17th century. Alongside the Seville crucifix, the Virgen de la Esperanza of Málaga will take part in the parade - an image of extraordinary devotional intensity. Also dating back to the 17th century and deeply linked to the Cofradía de la Esperanza, the sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary awaiting the Resurrection, with a look that expresses pain, sweetness and unshakable faith. Particularly famous for being carried during the majestic processions during Holy Week
in Malaga, the statue is traditionally carried on a monumental processional throne, surrounded by thousands of people.
This “major” Procession will be joined by a second Procession involving dozens of other Confraternities from different countries around the world. This second procession will travel along Viale delle Terme di Caracalla and Viale Aventino, concluding inside the Circus Maximus, from where the Confraternities will be able to watch the passage of the first procession. The meeting of the two processions at the Circus Maximus will represent the symbolic culmination of an event that blends spirituality, culture and tradition in a setting that is totally unique in the world. The use of sacred works from different European countries gives the celebration a special artistic and devotional value.