Hundreds of people are flocking to a shrine in Mexico to celebrate a controversial figure known as the “Narco Saint.”

www.wikipedia.com photo

Jesús Malverde image

He’s not recognized by the Catholic church, but that does not stop a growing number of believers from both sides of the border from making the pilgrimage.

Rich and poor flock to Sinaloa, Mexico to seek the "saint’s" protection.

Rogelio Valladares is a traveling musician who has made the trip.

He says Jesus Malverde helped heal his granddaughter who was very sick a few months ago.

According to legend and folk songs, Malverde helped the poor by stealing from the rich.

Mexican authorities captured and hung the Robin Hood like character.

It is that checkered past that appeals to Malverde’s more notorious followers.

Drug traffickers have faith in him, say many at the shrine.

Those who go there believe Malverder works miracles.

Though revered by many, the controversial figure is rejected by the Catholic church.

Hugo Valdemar, a spokesman for the Archdiocese in Mexico City called the rise of the so-called “Narco Saint” a worrisome perversion of values.

Still, that does not seem to matter to the hundreds of pilgrims who visit this shrine every year.

Many of the followers are from the U.S.

It’s hard to know exactly how many people head to Sinaloa to pay homage to Malverde.

The man who runs the shrine wanted to put a guestbook out front to get an accurate count but visitors told him they would not sign their names.

Still, nobody visiting the shrine doubts there is a growing number of Malverde believers on both side of the border and the law.

Donations to the shrine are used to help the poor.