Senator introduces initiatives to dignify pilgrimage, strengthen religious tourism.

By THE STAR STAFF

A mid Holy Week, a time when thousands of Puerto Rican families set out with devotion along the island’s roads and shrines, Sen. Roxanna Soto Aguilú introduced on Monday a package of legislative measures aimed at making people’s faith experience safer, more accessible, and more dignified.

These measures, the senator noted, align with Gov. Jenniffer González Colón’s vision of positioning Puerto Rico as an authentic and respectful spiritual destination.

“In these days, when so many walk with their hearts fixed on the Virgin or following in the footsteps of Christ, we cannot stop at mere words,” Soto Aguilú said. “We must legislate to ensure that this faith can be lived out with safety and dignity. These measures do not seek to turn the sacred into a business; rather, they honor our people’s devotion and make it easier for pilgrims of all ages to reach the sites that have borne witness to our spiritual history for generations.”

On Feb. 10, Soto Aguilú filed Senate Bill (SB) 1075, which establishes “The Faith Trail” (La Ruta de la Fe) as an official program of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The initiative includes an interactive digital map or mobile application allowing anyone to easily locate historic pilgrimage routes and major religious sites across the island’s six dioceses, while optionally integrating hiking as a way to connect spirituality with Puerto Rico’s natural beauty.

On Feb. 6, she introduced SB 1063, which establishes voluntary guidelines enabling convents, monasteries, and sacred sites that offer temporary lodging to obtain certification based on basic standards of hygiene, safety and sustainability -- all without imposing obligations or costs upon the public treasury, and while fully respecting their spiritual autonomy.