On the most important religious and cultural holiday in Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she had a phone conversation with Pope Leo XIV to formally invite him to visit the country.
In a message shared on X, Sheinbaum said the Pontiff sent his blessings and greetings to the Mexican people on the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe — a date that, she emphasized, symbolizes identity and peace for Mexicans regardless of individual faith or the secular nature of the State.
According to the President, both agreed that the figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe transcends religious affiliation and has long served as a cultural unifier across the nation.
Every December 12, millions of people in Mexico and abroad commemorate the Virgin of Guadalupe, considered the country’s patron saint and one of its most powerful national symbols.
The Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City is among the most-visited Marian shrines in the world and typically receives 8 to 10 million pilgrims on this date, according to official figures from the Basilica and the Mexico City government.
The celebration blends religious devotion with deep cultural and communal expressions. Pilgrims travel from every state — some walking for days — to pay homage at the Basilica. Families, Indigenous dance groups, musicians and community organizations fill the surrounding streets with offerings, rituals, and processions.
Beyond spirituality, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe holds major cultural and historical significance. Research by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has documented the Virgin’s central role as a symbol of mestizo identity since the 17th century, as well as her influence on social movements and community life over centuries.
Sheinbaum noted that inviting the Pope on such a date underscores the unifying power of the celebration. The Vatican has not yet issued an official response, but the President stated the exchange was warm and that Pope Leo XIV expressed his affection for the Mexican people.
A future papal visit would take place as Mexico seeks to strengthen its diplomatic and cultural engagement globally, while upholding the constitutional separation of Church and State — a principle firmly maintained since the 19th century and reaffirmed by the current administration.
Meanwhile, Guadalupana festivities continue to draw millions into one of the most significant collective rituals in the Americas, reaffirming the deep connection between faith, tradition and national identity in Mexico.
