The Archdiocese of Panama, together with the Association of Friends of Churches of Casco Antiguo, officially presented the details of the expected International Holy Week at Casco Antiguo 2025, a celebration that unites faith, culture and tradition in one of the most iconic heritage scenarios of the country.

During the press conference, led by Bishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, it was announced that this year more than 300 thousand people are expected to participate, strengthening the event as one of the most significant of the national religious and tourist calendar.

The Ministry of Culture announced its official support for the activity and confirmed the inclusion of the Religious Art Museum, situated at the old Santo Domingo Chapel of Guzmán, within the traditional Retiro of the Seven Churches that takes place every Holy Thursday. This historic space, restored in 2014, currently lies in a process of revaluation of heritage, with several pieces under restoration by a team of experts.

Ricardo Gago, representative of the Association of Friends of the Casco Antiguo and organizer of the event, emphasized that: "The Holy Week isn't only a demonstration of faith but also an opportunity to highlight the historic and cultural value of the Casco Antiguo. Last year we have been more than 226 thousand visitors and this year we have been planning to have more than 300 thousand visitors and this year we have been planning to place the event above and above the Panama Canal at this time."

Media coverage will be historic: four national television channels - FETC, Medcom, TVN-2 and SERTV have come together to broadcast live processions, bringing thousands of households inside and outside the country every moment.

A number of institutions have also united efforts to secure the success and safety of the day: Ministry of Security, National Police, Fire Corps, Aseus Authority, Office of the Casco Antiguo of the Ministry of Culture and the Communal Boards of Santa Ana and San Felipe.

To facilitate the accessibility of visitors, MiBus will implement a special path with pedestrian entrance to the Casco Antiguo, while the Mayor's office of Panama will have 225 parking and 18 exclusive spaces for tourist buses at the Ripple.

The Tour of the Seven Churches will include stops at historic temples such as:

Church Santa Ana, Our Lady of the Merced, San Felipe Neri, St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mary's Cathedral Old, St. Domingo Chapel of Guzmán

The Holy Week at Casco Antiguo will be held from Friday April 11, Dolores Friday, to Rerection Sunday, with an experience open to all Panamanian and international visitors.

"Holy week is an event that allows us to come back with our roots, with our sense of life and with the loving presence of God. The Casco Antiguo, with its wealth of heritage, offers us with the perfect framework for living this experience with depth," said Bishop Ulloa.

That joint public and private sector effort aims at promoting religious tourism as an export cultural product, generating direct benefits for traders, entrepreneurs and the local community.