Argentina's folk saints

In his humble neighborhood of tin shacks, dirt roads and a towering garbage dump, Carlos Marquez has found a reason to give thanks on the 8th of every month.

On that date, the ex-convict opens the door to a sanctuary he built from recycled garbage that holds shrines to two of his favorite folk saints: Argentina's death saint, San La Muerte, and a legendary outlaw revered by the poor, Gauchito Gil, who had his throat slit by police on Jan. 8, 1878.

In this Nov. 8, 2014 photo, followers of popular folk saint Gauchito Gil, some dressed like him, gather at a sanctuary built in his honor on the anniversary of his death in Alejandro Korn, Argentina. This sanctuary was built by Ruben Alfaro, who believes Gil cured him of colon cancer. To give thanks, he built this sanctuary where pilgrims come every eighth of the month to pay him tribute. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gauchito Gil and San La Muerte are just two of many folk saints not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church but which are flourishing in Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis. The phenomenon is not new, but experts say it surged after the South American country's 2001 financial crisis caused poverty rates to soar and people to seek out popular religiosity.

"He is the saint of the poor," Marquez said of Gauchito Gil. Shrines to the long-haired, mustachioed gaucho thief dot Argentina's slums and roadsides, especially in poor neighborhoods.

Marquez, who spent 15 years in prison for armed robbery, said that upon his release he built the sanctuary in La Carcova, a slum that grew around a garbage dump north of Buenos Aires. Its shrines are surrounded by red ribbons, cigarettes, flowers, candles and even knives left by the devout asking favors of or repaying debts to their saints.

"Common people are very expressive and search for the palpable. This is the case with a saint whose way of living is very close to theirs. This is the case with Gauchito Gil," said the Rev. Toto De Vedia, a priest who leads the parish in Villa 21 in southern Buenos Aires.

One of Argentina's most popular folk saints is La Difunta Correa, or Deolinda Correa, who according to legend set out into the desert with her baby in arms to look for her husband when he fell ill after being forcibly recruited to fight in Argentina's civil war in the 19th century. She died of thirst. When passing gauchos found her body under a tree, they discovered her baby was still alive, nourished by her breasts that had "miraculously" remained filled with milk.

In this Nov. 2, 2014 photo, a small statue of Deolinda Correa, better known as "La Difunta Correa," lays at her sanctuary in Vallecito in the San Juan province of Argentina, where pilgrims come to thank her for answering their prayers. She's one of Argentinaís most popular folk saints, who legend has it set out into the desert with her baby in her arms to find her ill husband who had been forcibly recruited to fight in Argentinaís civil war in the 19th century. Deolinda Correa died of thirst. When gaucho cattle herders found her body under a tree, they discovered that her baby was still alive, nourished by her breasts which ìmiraculouslyî remained filled with milk after her death. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Two million people a year visit her sanctuary 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) west of the Argentine capital. Statues of the dead woman dressed in red, a baby clutched to her breast, are common and devotees leave bottled water to quench her "eternal thirst."

Devotees of San La Muerte, which is depicted as a male skeletal figure holding a scythe, make offerings in hopes of favors ranging from health, fortune and protection to revenge.

"As a church, we must accompany and heal the distortions that such devotions can bring. We don't just accept them as is, but try to channel this devotion toward the good," said De Vedia.

The most recent case of popular adoration is that of cumbia singer Miriam Alejandra Bianchi, known as Gilda, who died in a bus accident in 1996 along with her family and band members.

Her fans started attributing miracles to her and giving her a holy status. They meet in front of her tomb in a Buenos Aires cemetery each Oct. 11 to celebrate her birthday. Devotees bring violets, balloons and even birthday cakes.

"One holds on to her and she is an intermediary to God, without a doubt," said Gaston Alarcon, president of her fan club. "I thank her for my job, my health and my house."

In this Sept. 7, 2014 photo, keychains of Argentina's late singer Gilda hang from a picture of Jesus Christ inside a sanctuary at the site where she died in a bus crash on the anniversary of her death in Entre Rios, Argentina. After the Argentine singer died at age 35 in a tragic road accident, her fans began attributing miracles to her, and gathering here on her birthday and the anniversary of her death to pray and thank her. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 8, 2014 photo, people dressed as South American cowboys dance at a sanctuary built in honor of Gauchito Gil on the anniversary of his death in Alejandro Korn, Argentina. On every 8th of the month, followers of Gil pay tribute to him, leaving offerings at roadside altars and ask for him to answer their prayers. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 8, 2014 photo, Carlos Marquez shows his pendants of San La Muerte, right, and Gauchito Gil at his home in the Carcova slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marquez said he grew up following Gauchito Gil, who he considers the folk saint of the poor and needy, referring to both material and spiritual poverty. His devotion to San La Muerte began in prison, where he served 15 years for armed robbery. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 photo, a follower of Argentina's late singer Gilda places burning candles at her sanctuary as she marks the anniversary of Gilda's death in Entre Rios, Argentina. Although the Catholic church doesn't recognize Gilda as a saint, many Argentine Catholics pray to Gilda, a popular Cumbia singer who died in a 1996 bus crash, because according to them, she quickly fulfills their prayers. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 8, 2014 photo, Carlos Marquez sits in front of his altar in honor of San La Muerte at his home in the La Carcova slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marquez says his devotion to San La Muerte began in prison, where he served 15 years for armed robbery. He built the altar in thanks for being alive, and says many youth in his neighborhood with drug problems and criminal pasts pray at his alter. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 2, 2014 photo, a woman touches a statue of Deolinda Correa, better known as "La Difunta Correa," at the site where legend has it she was found dead while her son continued to nurse on her breast to survive in Vallecito, in the San Juan province of Argentina. The life-size replica of the woman, with red dress and a little boy drinking milk from her breast, is visit by devotees every day who climb the hill where according to legend she was found dead, to thank her for fulfilling their prayers. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Sept. 29, 2014 photo, a Gauchito Gil statue sits behind glass on an altar outside a train station in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Altars of this legendary character have been erected by his followers across the country. Although not recognized by the Catholic church, most of Gil's devotees consider themselves Catholic. Shrines to the long-haired, mustachioed gaucho thief, are erected across the country, especially in poor neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 photo, dressed in the likeness of Argentina's late singer Gilda, Leila Pone, right, and professional singer Vanesa Arregui sing and dance to Gilda's songs at the site where Gild died in a bus crash on the anniversary of the artist's death in Entre Rios, Argentina. Miriam Alejandra Bianchi, better know as "Gilda," a name the artist chose in honor of Rita Hayworth, died at age 35 in a tragic road accident 18 years ago. A sanctuary was built at the site where she died and fans gather year round, but even more so on the anniversary of her birth and death. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 8, 2014 photo, a woman leans on a statue of popular folk saint Gauchito Gil at a sanctuary built in his honor by people who attribute miracles to him, on the anniversary of his death in Alejandro Korn, Argentina. Gauchito Gil was an 1800's outlaw who has become a symbol of bravery, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He was born Antonio Mamerto Gil Nunez in the 1840's, and executed on Jan. 8, 1878. People build altars in his name across the nation where on every 8th of the month, they gather to pay him tribute. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 8, 2014 photo, a figure of San La Muerte sits at a homemade sanctuary in the La Carcova slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Legend has it that San La Muerte was a man who helped lepers in jail and was found dead standing in a black robe leaning on a scythe. Today he's popular among prisoners. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 1, 2014 photo, a woman visits a roadside sanctuary for "La Difunta Correa" full of water bottles in Cordoba, Argentina. Legend has it that Deolinda Correa died in the 1840's while fruitlessly searching in the desert for her husband who was drafted to fight in the civil war. Correa, carrying her baby with her, died of thirst and exhaustion. The people who found her body discovered her son was still alive, nursing on her breast to survive. Today people erect sanctuaries along the nation's roads, leaving bottles of water to quench her eternal thirst . (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 photo, Flavia Piana holds a cake she made as she sings happy birthday to the late Argentine singer Gilda where the singer is buried at the Chacarita cemetery on what would have been Gilda's birthday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cumbia singer Miriam Alejandra Bianchi was born in 1961, and her stage name Gilda was in tribute to Rita Hayworth. She became one of Argentinaís most popular folk saints after she was killed in a bus accident when she was just 35. People gather at her tomb to honor her and thank for her miracles. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 2, 2014 photo, souvenirs showing Pope Francis with Jesus Christ and Deolinda Correa, better known as "La Difunta Correa" hang on a shelf for sale at her sanctuary in Vallecito in the San Juan province of Argentina. Devotes of Correa say they're Catholic but find no contradiction, even though she's not recognized by the church. According to Daniel Rojas, who runs the sanctuary, the church was asked to make Correa a saint but said since there's no historical documentation, so she will always be considered a legend. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 8, 2014 photo, a woman sits inside a home decorated with images of San La Muerte, right, and Gauchito Gil, left, in the Carcova slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to local legend, San La Muerte was a real-life man who died in prison helping lepers, and his body was found as a skeleton. Gil was a real man who was executed as an outlaw in 1878. Both are most popular characters among the lower economic class who pray to them for miracles. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Oct. 30, 2014 photo, a figure of Pope Francis, center, Gauchito Gil, left, and San La Muerte, right, sit for sale among other religious figures in a slum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Gauchito Gil and San La Muerte are just two of many folk saints, not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, which are flourishing in Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis. The phenomenon is not new, but experts say it surged after the South American countryís 2001 financial crisis which caused poverty rates to soar and people to seek out popular religiosity. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this Nov. 8, 2014 followers of Gauchito Gil, dressed as South American cowboys, dance at a sanctuary built in gratitude for his miracles on the anniversary of his death in Alejandro Korn, Argentina. Gauchito Gil was an 1800's outlaw who became a symbol of bravery. Born Antonio Mamerto Gil Nunez, he was executed on Jan. 8, 1878 and is the most popular of Argentinaís folks saints. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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