VENEZUELAN WOMAN HOLDS UP AN EFFIGY OF COROMOTO VIRGIN DURING PROCESSION IN CARACAS, 2003-05-24 (photo)

A venezuelan woman holds up an effigy of the Virgin of Coromoto during a procession in Caracas, May 5 2003. The Coromoto Virgin is the patron of Venezuelans. According to legend, the Coromoto Virgin takes her name from a Venezuelan Indian tribal chief in the 17th century who saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the central town of Guanare. The apparition prompted mass conversions to the Catholic faith among Indians during Spanish colonial rule. Today, the statue is the most revered Catholic icon in this country of 24 million, about 90 percent of whom are Roman Catholic. She is also a national symbol. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/FEATURE/VENEZUELA-VIRGIN JS/GN