Catholicism and Argentina

Argentina is a predomintantly Catholic country. It traces it Catholic roots back to the time of the Spanish conquest and the names of many cities reflect this. Here are a few examples:

• Santa Fe [sahn-tah fay]—means "holy faith"


• Rosario [roh-sahr-io]—means "rosary," or the crucifix representing the cross of Jesus Christ


• Apóstoles [ah-post-oh-lays]—means "apostles"


• San Juan [sahn whuan]—means "Saint John"
  


• Misiones [mees-ion-ays]—means "missions"


• Santa Cruz [sahn-tah croose]—means "holy cross"

The names of cities are just a few of the many things that attest to Catholic influence in Argentina. The Catholic Church has had quite a bit of political influence, as seen in its support for a law preventing divorce that was only rescinded recently. Images of saints and Jesus Christ appear all over the country in the form of statues, stickers on doors or cars, and paintings. Here are a few examples of different forms of the Virgin Mary that people display.



There are many other holy figures for Argentines that they have statues and paintings of in their house and elsewhere. While the people are in general faithful in God and to the Catholic Church, they do not always equate that with having to go to church services. Many cathedrals in Argentina are dwindling in attendance. But the people have faith in their religion and try to raise their children in the sacraments and teachings of the Catholic Church. Just like in many Latin American cities where the Spaniards made colonies, many Argentine cities have a beautiful cathedral at the center of town, often in front of a large plaza. Below are some pictures of some of these cathedrals. Argentina's Catholicism is an important part of their identity. They see their religion as something passed down from their European ancestors and as a heritage to keep. Understanding this is important to understanding Argentina's people.