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Even those who were born into a Catholic family but are now skeptical of all Catholic doctrines, never go to church, and never pray, will give a Catholic funeral to their parents.

Despite occasional conflicts between church and state, Catholicism has long enjoyed a very privileged position in Argentinian culture, where the overwhelming majority of people are Catholic, at least by virtue of baptism.

The contours of family life in China are shaped by three especially important factors: the traditional and very powerful Confucian and Buddhist tenets of filial piety, the decades-long “one child” state policy, and the shift to an urban, capitalist economy.

In Argentina, 20 percent of Catholics identify as charismatic. While the proportion of charismatics is low compared to the rest of Latin America, it is still significant.

Difunta Correa is a popular, though unofficial, saint with roots in the Argentine civil wars. Her story speaks of both tragedy and motherly protection and determination.

Gauchito Gil is not officially recognized as a Christian saint, but many Catholics here do regard him as a reliable intercessor. Prayers and homages to him at his shrines regularly ask his protection, and he is regarded as a kind of Robin Hood figure who protects the poor and vulnerable in the face of a world that would trample them.

It is difficult to overstate the role of Marian devotion in Argentine Catholicism. One of the most remarkable elements of Argentine devotion is the proliferation and salience of local advocaciones, titles or appearances under which Mary is invoked.

On a hilltop in Salta, devotees visit a sanctuary for the Virgen del Cerro, who regularly appears to an intermediary there. People come for peace, spiritual connection and healing.

In much of northern Argentina, San Expedito stands out as one of the most popular saints for poor people. In San Miguel de Tucumán, devotees line the block to visit his statue on the 19th of every month.

Pilgrims play a large and communal role in the feast of Señor y Virgen del Milagro, held in Salta, Argentina September 13-15 each year. As many as 60,000 pilgrims walk, bike, or ride by horseback from farmlands and desert towns all over the province and beyond1 to join a total of 800,000 feast 1Total numbers are from El Tribuno , Salta, Argentina, September 16, 2015, 1 and 3, while the number of pilgrims was given in the same paper on September 14, 2015, 1. Both times the paper cites police figures. Almost all of the participants, so far as the author could tell, were Argentinian.