In Buenos Aires, tens of thousands of people invaded the Plaza de Mayo on Saturday for a “rave” party in tribute to the late Pope Francis, one year after his death, to the beats of Portuguese “heart DJ” Guilherme Peixoto.
The decibels, the dance, the faith, or at least the communion. A few tens of thousands of people made the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires vibrate on Saturday, to the electronic sounds of Portuguese “heart DJ” Guilherme Peixoto, for a huge party in honor of the Argentine pope Francis, who died just a year ago.
The iconic Plaza de Mayo, known for major political and activist demonstrations, recently marked the 50th anniversary of the dictatorship (1976-1983). It turned into a gigantic party for over two hours, crowding adjacent avenues.
Intense beats, powerful yet melodic build-ups, video mappings of celestial clouds, peace doves, crosses, interspersed with images and audio messages of Pope Francis: alternately laughing or absorbed, at the mixing table, Father Guilherme, in a black shirt and clerical collar, animated what has made him internationally known in recent years, and what moves him.
“The municipality of Buenos Aires said it expected between 30,000 and 50,000 people for the free concert. Symbolically, in front of the cathedral where Jorge Bergoglio was a very popular archbishop for 15 years before becoming Pope Francis in 2013. He never returned to Argentina until his death on April 21, 2025.
The combination of electronic music and religious messages has become the trademark of Father Guilherme, famous far beyond his native Portugal – originating from Guimaraes, he is a priest in Braga – for his techno “masses” held around the world, in Lisbon, Beirut, Mexico, Rio, Ibiza.
“A cocktail, a bridge to young people, endorsed by Pope Francis himself, who met him and invited him to animate the World Youth Days in Lisbon in 2023.
“It’s great that he’s trying to bring people together through electronics and religion,” said Tomas Ferreira, a 25-year-old lawyer, among the predominantly young but not exclusively crowd. Unlike 63% of Argentines, he claims to be non-Catholic, but acknowledges that “religion is modernizing, and that’s a good thing.”
