The sword of Saint Michael the Archangel, from the sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo in Italy, has arrived in Paraguay on its first journey outside Italian territory. The visit will center on the consecration of Paraguayan families and the nation to the archangel, scheduled for this Friday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m., at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.
According to the Archdiocese of Asunción, the transfer was made possible through collaboration between the Embassy of Paraguay to the Holy See, the Archdiocese of Asunción, and the Basilica Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, located on Mount Gargano in the Italian region of Apulia.
The ceremony will be attended by the President of the Republic, as well as religious and civil authorities.
First time the sword leaves the Italian sanctuary
The rector of the Monte Sant’Angelo sanctuary, Father Ladislao Suchy, emphasized that this is the first time the sword has left Italy.
“For the first time, this sword will leave Italy to go to another country, and the first country to welcome this sign will be Paraguay,” he noted.
For his part, the Archbishop of Asunción, Cardinal Adalberto Martínez Flores, explained that the visit will allow for a consecration ceremony of the archdiocese and Paraguayan families to Saint Michael the Archangel.
“In October of this year 2026, we will have the joy of receiving the sword of Saint Michael here, from Italy, on Mount Gargano, and that sword is also a cultural heritage of Italy,” he stated.
The cardinal also highlighted the importance of “consecrating ourselves, the entire Archdiocese of Asunción, and all our families, because we know that Saint Michael is a guardian, a defender.”
Tour through various dioceses in Paraguay
The sword will remain in Paraguay for ten days and will travel to different locations across the country.
After the events planned in Asunción, it will visit Caacupé on October 11 and 12, Villarrica on the 13th and 14th, and San Lorenzo between the 15th and 17th. It will then return to the capital on October 18, before its transfer back to Italy, scheduled for the 19th.
The visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Miguelite Fathers in Paraguay, a congregation dedicated to spreading devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel.
The sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo
The sword comes from the Basilica Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, located in a cave on Mount Gargano in southern Italy.
The sanctuary dates back to the 5th century and is linked to the apparitions of Saint Michael the Archangel recorded in Christian tradition. Over the centuries, it has become one of the main pilgrimage sites dedicated to the archangel.
The Basilica of Monte Sant’Angelo has emphasized the exceptional nature of the transfer to Paraguay, marking the sword’s first visit to a foreign country.
During its stay, liturgical acts and prayer gatherings will be held, with the consecration of families and the Paraguayan nation as the main ceremony of the program.