This event marked the official beginning of the central days of one of the most emblematic and deeply rooted traditions in the city and throughout Andalucía. The ceremony was inaugurated by the mayor of Andújar, who urged pilgrims to experience the journey with respect for the natural environment and to enhance a tradition that is a source of pride for the city.

Subsequently, the elder brother of the Cofradía Matriz spoke, before the herald for 2025 introduced the evening's main speaker. The herald for this sixtieth edition delivered a speech that blended familiarity and casualness with profound poetic and emotional depth.

Through his words, the speaker traced a journey through pilgrim history, from the appearance of the Virgen de la Cabeza to the current feelings of the pilgrims, evoking traditions, experiences, and emotions shared by generations of locals and visitors from all over Spain. The herald intertwined personal experiences with collective memories linked to the pilgrim path, creating a strong connection with the audience and turning the event into a moment of communion.

The herald, a native of Andújar, holds a doctorate in Hispanic Philology and is a professor of Spanish Language at the University of Málaga. His research career includes collaborations with international institutions and his participation in the development of national reference linguistic resources. In addition to his solid academic career, he has a notable literary facet, with several published poetry collections that reflect his sensitivity with words, a quality that was fully evident in a proclamation received with enthusiasm.