Pilgrims pray at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in the city of Aparecida
Pilgrims pray at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's national saint, in the city of Aparecida, 165 km (103 miles) east of Sao Paulo October 12, 2011. The Basilica is Latin America's most popular shrine and one of the world's largest cathedrals. The shrine dates back to 1717, when three fishermen having a run of bad luck cast their nets in the Paraiba River and dragged up a headless statue of the Virgin Mary, venerated as Our Lady of Aparecida and named Brazil's national saint in 1930. Every year millions of Brazilian and foreign pilgrims visit the shrine and about 100,000 people usually attend services in Aparecida commemorating her every October 12. REUTERS/Nacho Doce (BRAZIL - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)