A few days away from the Círio de Nazaré, the largest religious event in Brazil, celebrated in Belém, Pará, preparations to welcome the faithful intensify.
This Friday (9), the second official pilgrimage of the Círio de Nazaré 2026 takes place, with the image of the saint being transferred to Ananindeua and Marituba, on a route of more than 50 kilometers, which ends at the Main Church of Ananindeua. The estimated duration is 10 hours, with arrival scheduled for 6pm. Along the route, the procession is expected to bring together around 1.5 million people.
The procession is also the first with the Pilgrim Image dressed in the new mantle, presented this Thursday (8), during mass in the Sanctuary Basilica. Inspired by the theme of the 2026 Candle, Mary, missionary who gives us Jesus, the mantle accompanies Our Lady on her path to meet the devotees.
This Saturday (10), the Rodoviária pilgrimages take place, leaving at 5:30 am from Praça Matriz de Ananindeua. In the district of Icoaraci, in Belém, the traditional Fluvial pilgrimage leaves at 9am. The motorbike pilgrimage leaves at 11:30 am, from Pedro Teixeira square. At 12:30 pm the original image is lowered into the Basilica Sanctuary of Nazareth.
This year, Círio expects to bring together around 2.5 million people. To ensure that the celebrations take place smoothly, a security scheme was set up bringing together several bodies, such as the Federal Highway Police, Military, Fire Department and Municipal Guard of Belém and Ananindeua and Civil Guard of Marituba.
The security scheme involves defensive and preventive policing actions, monitoring and responding to incidents along the entire route and at high-crowd points.
On Monday (12), 53 blocking points are planned to be operated from 5 am until 1 pm by the Military Police, DMV and Belém Municipal Guard.
The safety plan also includes traffic management actions and road cleaning operations at night. The integrated structure will bring together forces from the Civil Police, Scientific Police, Fire Department, Armed Forces and other agents of the security system.
The Secretary of Public Security of Pará, Ed-lin Lima, explained that the operation will rely on the work of the Integrated Mobile Command and Control Center to reinforce monitoring and integration between state and municipal bodies during the festivities.
"There were months of meetings at the Integrated Command and Control Center. The bodies came here and the Círio board of directors also positioned themselves, observing the details and participating in the discussions, so that we can arrive with almost 5 thousand agents dedicated solely to Operation Círio", he said.
The movement of pilgrims in Belém has started since Monday (5). Devotees, coming from different municipalities in Pará and other states, have as one of their main points of reference the Casa de Plácido, in the Basilica Santuário de Nazaré complex.
This year, around 13 thousand people are expected to pass through the place, which traditionally welcomes pilgrims who arrive in the capital, offering support, rest and assistance to devotees. Casa de Plácido also functions as a meeting point for those who participate in Círio’s programs.
For those who are going to follow the Círio, one of the main recommendations is to plan your journey in advance, check the areas that will be closed and choose alternative routes.
Another recommendation is to give preference to public transport and avoid driving near the route. Drivers who choose to circulate must pay attention to signage and instructions from traffic officials.
Security agencies ask for attention to blockages and to avoid trying to access closed areas. It is also important not to park in places where the procession will pass, so as not to impede circulation and the work of security teams.
For pedestrians, the advice is to be careful when crossing roads, especially in places with a large concentration of people. Children and the elderly must always remain accompanied.
It is also important to arrange a meeting point with family or friends, in case someone gets lost while moving. Anyone traveling on a bicycle or motorcycle must also respect the roadblocks and avoid traveling among large concentrations of pilgrims.
Care should also be taken with cell phones, documents, money and other personal objects, especially in crowded places. The recommendation is to carry the documents in a small, tightly closed bag.
