(17 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
La Tirana, Chile – 15 July 2025
1. Faithful with an illuminated devil costume dances
2. Faithful dancing with colorful costumes
3. Faithful dancing ++MUTE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS –
La Tirana, Chile – 14 July 2025
4. Juan Rodríguez Chapa, right, gives mass with other priests
5. Chapa
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Rodríguez Chapa, Catholic Priest:
"It’s been 25 years since they’ve been dancing, but I’ve known the Diablada for about 30 years."
7. Chapa giving the communion
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Rodríguez Chapa, Catholic Priest:
"The devils surrender before the love of the Lord, which is represented in Mary, who shows us her son, her son Jesus in her arms."
9. Chapa takes off his white alb, revealing a colorful dancing suit
10. Chapa waiving as he goes to dance
11. Chapa putting on the devil’s mask
12. Various of Chapa dancing
ASSOCIATED PRESS –
La Tirana, Chile – 16 July 2025
13. Faithful carry the image of the Virgin of Carmen out of the Church Our Lady Carmen de La Tirana ++MUTE++
14. Virgin of Carmen
15. José Luís Maya walks on his knees as his nephew Evelyn Silva wipes the little rock off the floor
16. Maya walks up the stairs of the Church Our Lady Carmen de La Tirana on his knees
17. Maya reaches the altar of the Virgin of Carmen
18. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) José Luís Maya, faithful:
"Devoted to the Virgin, always to the Tirana (Virgin of Carmen). And the promises that are made are to improve the family’s situation for someone sick, in this case for the mother who is going to turn 86, to bring her every year (to the festivity)."
ASSOCIATED PRESS –
La Tirana, Chile – 15 July 2025
19. Various of people dancing dressed as devils
20. Virgin of Carmen against the backdrop of the moon
STORYLINE:
After Monday’s mass, the altar’s solemnity gave way to a three-day festival’s energy for Padre Juan Rodríguez Chapa. He shed his white alb, revealing a colorful dancing suit, ready for the Lady of Carmen of La Tirana festivities.
Then, with a flourish of his horned mask and a swish of his "Devil" costume, Padre Juan joined the crowds.
He danced with hundreds of faithful across this Atacama desert town.
It might seem odd: a Catholic priest dressed as a devil. But for Padre Juan, a respected priest, dancing as a devil in the annual Festival of La Tirana isn’t a contradiction. It’s an expression of faith.
"This festivity," he explained, "represents nothing less than the Virgin Mary’s triumph over the devil."
La Tirana is one of Chile’s most significant religious festivals. It draws thousands to the Atacama Desert each year, a convergence of Indigenous traditions and Catholic devotion, where the lines between sacred and celebratory blur in homage to the Virgin.
Video by Esteban Felix
Produced by Victor R. Caivano
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